Blessings for an Upright Heart

I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me (Psalm 119: 7-8 NIV).Blessings for an Upright Heart

There are two “I wills”—one in verse seven and one in verse eight. Here, the psalmist has the best of intentions, He wants to follow God’s Word with his whole heart. He admits he doesn’t yet know all there is to know about God, but he commits to a lifelong learning experience.

Praising goes hand in hand with learning. When you turn your heart to praise God, you become motivated to learn more about Him. At the same time, the more you learn about Him, the more you are compelled to praise Him! This wonderful, unending circle will improve your heart, your mind, and your life.

Notice that your praise cannot be half-hearted. You must praise Him with upright heart. This means your praise will be sincere, and it will be for God alone. You may love your church and your pastor, but your praise is to be for God alone. You may adore your family, but your heart must always be directed to God.