Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. Psalm 119: 13, NIV.
Gracious God, we are so grateful that whatever our needs may be, we can come to You, and have them filled. Today we need You to take full control of our lives, and keep us from causing others pain, knowingly, or, unknowingly. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
When someone causes another person pain, willfully, we say that person is “sick.” In other words, that person is in a state of “less than, wholesomeness,” therefore, we describe him or her as sick. That person is lacking either emotionally, physically, or, spiritually. When the basic triad (body, soul, and spirit) find fulfillment, we experience wholesomeness. In such a state we have no desire to hurt others, because we are experiencing fulfillment.
Whenever we sin, we cause pain, directly, or indirectly, because the plans of God are intended to bring us joy. His plans for us, are plans of good. When we depart from His plans (sin), the results will be the opposite of joy (pain, sadness). If we are not careful, the desire to sin, will take control of us. David, who is considered the author of this psalm, knew that quite well. He had committed willful sin, knowingly, with Bathsheba, and then had Uriah, her husband, killed. He had caused much pain, not only to individuals, but to an entire nation. I am not sure if this psalm was written before, or after, his sin with Bathsheba, but his prayer is that God will keep him “from willful sin . . . [and that he would be] blameless, innocent, of great transgression.” God is always willing to help us flee from sin.
May this be our prayer today, and everyday.