Psalm 119:7

I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. — Psalm 119:7

During a recent counseling session with an older man, I wanted to provide a gospel foundation for the correction I wanted to give but within the context of where he found himself in his current circumstances.

This man was a professing Christian who had a life that was characterized as a serial adulterer. He showed the beginning of heart-level brokenness and contrition. We had spoken about the Prodigal Son story found in Luke but he was well versed in moralistic Bible teaching and only heard that he should just stop being the “rebellious younger brother.”

Impacted by abuse in his past, he was struggling with a heart that was not “upright” or mature.  He had never “learned your righteous ways’ as referred to in this verse. At a heart level, this man’s identity was that of a abused, young teenaged boy. That is why this verse is so helpful. It points us back to our heart.

The Holy Spirit gave me the word picture needed just at the right moment.“You have a young boy ruling and reigning your heart.”

I could see him pause. I could see him mentally take note.  I could see the beginnings of tears come to his eyes.  It was hard to hear. He did not want to believe it. But the Holy Spirit in him was working.  Truth had found a way into his circumstances that he could not deny.

Praise God for the truth of His Word.