You are currently viewing Pick Up the Pace (Psalm 119:32)

Pick Up the Pace (Psalm 119:32)

I shall run the way of Your commandments, for You will enlarge my heart.
Psalm 119:32

In the midst of the trials of life, the psalmist has reminded us that we must choose the faithful way and cling to the Lord. Now he emphasizes the importance of running in the way of the commandments. Up to this point in Psalm 119, the psalmist has talked about walking in the way of the Lord. Now we are picking up the pace. Why the change in speed?

George Zemek provides some helpful insight on this verse:

With confidence in a gracious response on the part of his Lord, our disciple regains his spiritual second wind and concentrates on the ‘race set before him.’1

We are all inclined to turn our eyes inward when we are in the midst of trouble. We can forget that God is very intentional, and any circumstance that He takes us through will certainly provide opportunities for ministry. If all we think about is our self, we will likely miss out on accomplishing the spiritual purposes that come during difficult times. We ought not to waste our pain. Stay alert and diligent in seeking opportunities to minister to others, even in the midst of the tears and heartache!

This heart for ministry is reflected in the remainder of the verse. The psalmist is confident that the Lord will enlarge his heart. We must strive to see our circumstances as controlled by a sovereign God who uses events in our lives to bring us into contact with people we would not have otherwise met. These God-orchestrated meetings will make it possible for us to bear much spiritual fruit, even in the darkest days of our lives. As we see God accomplish His eternal purposes, we are invigorated and joyful because God uses us for His sovereign purposes.

This is not the formula to avoid difficult circumstances. This is how we can be revived in the midst of our circumstances. This is how we can be strengthened when we have no strength and this is how our heart can be enlarged so that we can better understand God’s truth and serve Him with renewed determination. This is also how we avoid the false way that the psalmist has warned us about – the way that keeps our eyes focused inward without regard for the spiritual needs of those around us.

 

1 Zemek, George, The Word of God in the Child of God, p. 128.

Tags: , , , ,

Rocky Wyatt

Rocky Wyatt came to know the Lord as a young teenager and began working in youth ministry when in college. After serving in churches in Utah, California and Colorado, Rocky moved to Texas to serve as Youth Pastor at Countryside Bible Church. He served there for 26 years where he eventually moved from youth ministry to serve as an Associate Pastor.

Over the course of his ministry, Rocky has always had a desire to train men for pastoral ministry in the context of the local church. In 1992 he started XL Ministries, an organization that is committed to helping churches establish intensive internships for pastoral training. In 2020 he left his position at Countryside Bible Church to become the Executive Director of XL Ministries and now works full time assisting churches in training men for ministry.

He is co-author of The Youth Ministry Training Manual, a textbook for training youth pastors, and has also written multiple other resources for use in various local church ministries. He is currently working on a book to encourage churches to take the primary responsibility to train pastors.

Rocky is married to Pamela, has two sons and daughters-in-law, and ten grandchildren. 

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.1 Corinthians 15:58