Many years ago, I
put into practice reciting this at least upon arising and before
retiring for bed. Albeit, it was just a mantra. I would try to
meditate on each line, but it still seemed canned and ritualistic.
However, recently, I began to research scriptures to identify with
each line and this mantra truly then became a prayer. Hopefully, this
will inspire you on your path of righteousness.
Hear, O Israel:
He that hath ears
to hear, let him hear. (Luke 8:8)
Be ye hearers of
the word, and not doers only, deceiving your own selves. (James 1:22)Therefore whosoever hearth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them... (Matt 7:24)
Blessed are they that do His commandments... (Rev 22:14)
the Lord is our God, the Lord is one.
But to us there is but one God, the Father, of Whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, and we by Him. (I Cor. 8:6)
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Eph 4:4-5)
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (I Tim 2:5)
And
you shalt love the Lord you God with all you heart,
Create in me a
clean heart, oh God and renew a right spirit within me. (Ps. 51:10 )
Let the words of my
mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, oh
YHVH my Rock and my Redeemer. (Ps. 19:14)I will praise Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart.(Ps. 9:1)
[I will praise Thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned Thy righteous judgments.
With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not wander from Thy commandments.
Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee.
Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
I entreated Thy favor with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to Thy Word.
I will keep Thy precepts with my whole heart.
Let my heart be sound in Thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.
I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.
I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord.] (Excerpts from Ps. 119)
Many other
Psalms may be found in your concordance dealing with the heart.
Proverbs says,
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues
of life. (Pro. 4:23)
Yeshua said,
“Those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from
the heart; and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil
thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness,
blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man. (Mt. 15:18-20)
and
with all your soul,
The word for
soul in Hebrew is NEFESH. It is widely used in a sense to encompass
appetite, desire, lust, the mind, pleasure either negatively or
positively. The ancient Hebrews often referred to 'afflicting the
soul' which meant to abstain from food. Hence our soul is the part
of our being that is responsible for desires delights and affections.
“He satisfieth the hungry soul with goodness – Ps 107:9”
Bless the
Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. (Ps.
103:1)
But his
delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law doth he meditate day
and night. (Ps 1:2)I will delight myself in Thy statutes: I will not forget Thy Word. (Ps. 119:16)
Thy testimonies are my delight and my counselors. ( '' '' 24)
Make me to go in the way of Thy commandments; for therein do I delight. ('' '' 35)
And I will delight myself in Thy commandments, which I have loved. ('' '' 47)
Unless Thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction. ('' '' 92)
O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day. ('' ''97)
My soul is continually in my hand: yet do i not forget thy law ('' '' 109)
I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for Thy commandments. ('' ''131)
My soul hath kept Thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly. ('' '' 167)
As the deer panteth for the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God. (Ps. 42:1)
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: (Ps. 84:2)
The desire of the righteous is only good. (Pro 11:23)
The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul. (Pro. 13:19)
Set your affections
on things above and not on things on the heart. (Col. 3:2)
Yeshua said,
“Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Mt.
6:21)and with all your might.
The word for
might in Hebrew is M'ohd. It means so much more than strength or
power. In fact, Jewish translation often translate it as resources,
as our might (or labor) brings profit and increase.
Honor the Lord with
thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase. (Pro.
3:9)
And whatsoever thy
hand findeth to do, do it with thy might... (Ec. 9:10)And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. (Col. 3:23)
With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men... (Eph. 6:7)
And
you shall love you neighbor as yourself.
Therefore all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them.
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.
David was a man
after God's own heart. You will find over and over again, Psalms that
ring out these points – whole heart, all your soul and all your
might. I challenge you to incorporate this formula in your prayers,
just as we studied on the Lord's prayer.
