Daily Affirmations - Day 1- What Is This? - According to Your Own Heart

This week's Theme: What is This?

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Day 1: According to Your Own Heart

"What is this?"

The expression came into my mind with startling clarity— in my Uncle Duncan's voice. I hadn't heard it in years.

If the last statement is puzzling I need to explain that this was not the regular question, "What is this?", that seeks to identify or uncover. This "What is this?" is a particular Caribbean expression, delivered with a specific cadence— a certain melodious ring at the end— that could denote surprise, disbelief, amazement, wonderment...

In Uncle Duncan's case, it was his way of entering heart and spirit into our child's world, encouraging our chatter, and drawing out inconsequential "confidences." Before now, it had never entered my adult mind. It was simply one of those parts of childhood that just was; now secreted away in a special compartment labelled "The Fond Forgotten." Until it burst into my present with all of Uncle Duncan's musical tones, rhythms, and inflections.

Earlier, I had been watering my small backyard garden, looking at the sprouting greenery— the new plants I was trying this year— hoping and praying they would thrive. And as always, I was grateful for the herbs that came back each year and flourished in spite of me.

But now, as I gazed out my kitchen window onto my backyard and beyond, I thought of the last year, with its doubts and uncertainties, and its threats of upheaval. And the "What is This?" that burst from the past into my present soul was one of wonderment, and marvel, and gratitude.

I thought of a "What is This?" moment in the life of King David, when the prophet Nathan relayed to him God's plan for his posterity and his heritage: “And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16).

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord; and he said: “Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?... You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You... (vs.18, 22).

While my actual situation was nothing like David's, I recognized a fundamental similarity in my overwhelming sense of God's goodness, kindness, and amazing involvement in the details of our lives. And I understood the spirit of thanksgiving in his prayer.

David did not have a life free from trouble or difficulty before or after the assurances from God about his family line. He knew that he shared in the sorrow and pain of a world marred by its original disobedience to God. And he marveled at the promise that he and his line would become part of the ultimate healing and restoration God had planned for humanity.

Yet it would be many years before the promise would unfold, and an angel would make an announcement to terrified shepherds in an open field: “Do not be afraid... I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2: 10-11 - NKJV).

By then, David had long passed from the troubles of this life. But the plans determined and promised by God had marched through the centuries in a lineage that could be traced directly to him on the way backward to the beginning of human history, and forward into forever (Matt 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38).

God's promise to David was a specific promise for the Messianic lineage. But the promise includes you and me and our households (What is This?); for it goes back to a covenant God had established with Abraham (Genesis15, 26:14).

In fact, it goes even farther back to a promise made among the ruins of a once perfect garden now decimated by sin (Genesis 3:15). And even before that to the Lamb Slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 3:18 - NKJV).

I pray, that like David, I too, would hold fast to the promises of a trustworthy God (Psalm 145:13). For I know that I too, have not seen the last of trouble and difficulty. And that the time will come when I will pass from this life, as did my Uncle Duncan and others in my lineage before me.

So, as grateful as I am for the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13), and as vast and as welcome are His blessings in this life, I pray that l would have the greater vision of forever for myself and for my heritage; and that my heart, my outlook, and my preoccupation would always be for the great while to come (vs.19 -NKJV); (the future of the house of Your servant - NIV); according to Your own heart (vs. 21).