A white board hangs on one of the walls of our basement. On it scribblings mark the agenda of the day, that is, those perceived as most important through the eyes of the last grandchild to have passed there. Until of course, another comes along to wipe it clean.
A list of games, many invented on the spot, snacks, and often highly imaginative activities grow until someone at some time decides the whole thing is long enough, messy enough, or ridiculous enough to erase it for a clean slate.
When David wrote his own personal lament in Psalm 143, I doubt that a New Year with its planning journals, fireworks, or resolutions prompted it. Yet, as I read it in my morning time with the Lord, the verses narrowed through the lens of a clean slate and new beginnings.
Hear my prayer, O Lord;
give ear to my pleas for mercy!
In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
Enter not into judgment with your servant,
for no one living is righteous before you. (Psalm 143:1-2 ESV)
This is the time of year we look for easy do-able steps to accomplish dreams and reach goals. We search for 1,2,3’s, and ABC’s of keeping life steady, moving forward, positive change, and a path to greater happiness. Yet, even the most optimistic must bow to reality. No matter how well our plans are laid, we can be sure not all things will go as projected. And sometimes, “full steam ahead,” simply evaporates into thin air.
I’ve had good intentions before. I’ve worked hard toward some life goals which will probably never be achieved. And there are those failures which repeat from year to year.
Because you see, no matter how very hard I try to form my year ahead according to my will and desires, my perception cannot see through perfect vision. Because of course, pride distorts perspectives. David, shepherd boy and King, begins where I need to as well. He starts with a repentant heart.
Here we are, already past the second Friday of January called, “Quitter’s Day.” And those plans we’ve made on a foundation of optimism and good intentions, can reflect arrogance unless they are birthed in a spirit of humble repentance.
James, brother of Jesus, writes this;
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. (James 4:13-17)
Repentance lays the groundwork for God to work. True beginnings begin with the clean slate of a cleansed soul. Beginnings root and flourish when repentance’s place of submission becomes a daily discipline. Far too often I just keep adding to the whiteboard, trying to get where I want to be through new initiatives, strategies and approaches, without first going back to the clean slate of daily confession and repentance.Repentance lays the groundwork for God to work. Share on X
David, thousands of years ago, penned words that apply to me as I reckon with old happenings and new beginnings.
He reminds me that God is worthy to handle my affairs. God alone is righteous, and in these verses, acknowledgement of his own need sets the agenda.
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul. (Psalm 143:8 ESV)
Your new beginning might need some adding to the slate, but, perhaps first of all, it’s an opportunity to bow in humble servitude before the Father. A slate cleansed from selfish ambitions and self-serving goals, places God’s plans above prideful desires. It embraces His grace above our own unrelenting strivings. It agrees with God in wanting what He wants more than what we want.
Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
on level ground! (Psalm 143:10 ESV)
I’ve walked past that overloaded white board in our basement a zillion times. I often stop and read the new scribblings, and added plans. I smile at the ambitions and creativity of my grandchildren. Just seeing their penmanship with all its described anticipation fills me with warmth and love. I shake my head at the impossibility of fulfilling all those hopes, and cringe at the crazy dangers some of them represent.
I cannot help wondering if my Father looks at my busy slate with patience and love, too. Perhaps He smiles at the often messy-filled agenda that I present to Him. I am so very grateful He forgives the selfish ambition and pride with which some plans are written. I’m grateful for His grace and mercy that wipes clean the slate and births new beginnings.
And I know, my year’s agenda will be best written by Him.
Gina Castell
Good word. ❤️ G