Psalm 139- My Heart, Christ's Home

A reflection on the Psalm and Robert Boyd Munger's, "My Heart, Christ's Home"

"You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you preceive my thoughts from afar...Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?... I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made..."- Psalm 139

"One evening, I invited Jesus Christ into my heart. What an entrance He made! It was not a spectacular, emotional thing, but very real. Something happened at the very center of my life. He came into the darkness of my heart and turned on the light. He built a fire on the hearth and banished the chill. He started music where there had been stillness, and He filled the emptiness with His own loving, wonderful fellowship. I have never regretted opening the door to Christ and I never will." - MHCH

Reflecting on my life, I rarely had many big moments of epiphany that Jesus is really LORD. It still feels like a slow realization with many moments of doubt. What comforts me is similar to how the author describes the revival that happened in his heart: "he turned on the light," "built a fire," and "started music where there had been stillness..." I recognize that the choices I used to make are no longer reflective of my current state. While I have had many times of immaturity, I have also never regretted opening the door to Christ.

In the joy of this new relationship, I said to Jesus Christ, “Lord, I want this heart of mine to be Yours. I want to have You settle down here and be perfectly at home. Everything I have belongs to You. Let me show You around.”

The Study

My mind. Psalm 139 says God knows the words on my tongue before I speak them. He knows my thoughts from afar. He KNOWS me. Moreover, he has laid his hand upon me. How beautifully the author writes about the books and magazines he has collected in his study. How intentionally have I also made my personal bookshelf and media collection. Top ten lists, critically acclaimed stories and writings. Still, I also feel the embarrassment when Jesus looks around at the guilty pleasure TV shows, the justified movies, the wasteful YouTube videos.

An audit of my study has concluded that while I have a selection of profitable content in my collection, the majority of my consumption is justified stupidity. LORD, will you please help me fix the desires and misguided consumption of entertainment?

"“Certainly!” He said. “I’m glad to help you. First of all, take all the things that you are reading and looking at which are not helpful, pure, good and true, and throw them out! Now, put on the empty shelves the books of the Bible. Fill the library with Scripture and meditate on it day and night. As for the pictures on the walls, you will have difficulty controlling these images, but I have something that will help.” He gave me a full-size portrait of Himself. “Hang this centrally,” He said, “on the wall of the mind.” I did, and I have discovered through the years that when my thoughts are centered upon Christ Himself, His purity and power cause impure thoughts to back away. So He has helped me to bring my thoughts under His control."

The Dining Room

My favorite dishes: spending money, gaming, learning finance/feeling smarter, security of money.

I spend a lot of time trying to satisfy my own wants, I rarely have ever felt full.

These were the things I liked: secular fare. When the food was placed before Him, He said nothing, but I observed that He did not eat it.

The largest area of my life that lacks dicipline is my self control over spending. It feels good, it satisfies my want in the moment, and when I go too long without spending, it creates a desire to the point that I don't care what I spend money on as long as I do so soon.

"If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you..." - Psalm 139

Jesus doesn't eat how I eat. He has control, trust in God's timing, and a respect of the gifts God has given to him that day. As the Psalm says, I cannot hide in the darkness, there isn't anything that can provide privacy from his love.

There at the table He gave me a taste of the joy of doing God’s will. What flavor! There is no food like it in all the world. It alone satisfies.

The Living Room

I cannot think of anything in my story unique to what the author has said, so please read this section in it's entirety and reflect on how your quiet time with Jesus is going.

From the dining room we walked into the living room. This room was intimate and comfortable. I liked it. It had a fireplace, overstuffed chairs, a sofa, and a quiet atmosphere.

He said, “This is, indeed, a delightful room. Let us come here often. It is secluded and quiet, and we can fellowship together.” Well, as a young Christian I was thrilled. I couldn’t think of anything I would rather do than have a few minutes with Christ in close companionship. He promised, “I will be here early every morning. Meet me here, and we will start the day together.”

So morning after morning, I would come downstairs to the living room. He would take a book of the Bible from the case. We would open it and read together. He would unfold to me the wonder of God’s saving truths. My heart sang as He shared the love and the grace He had toward me. These were wonderful times.

However, little by little, under the pressure of many responsibilities, this time began to be shortened. Why, I’m not sure. I thought I was too busy to spend regular time with Christ. This was not intentional, you understand. It just happened that way. Finally, not only was the time shortened, but I began to miss days now and then. Urgent matters would crowd out the quiet times of conversation with Jesus. I remember one morning rushing downstairs, eager to be on my way. I passed the living room and noticed that the door was open. Looking in, I saw a fire in the fireplace and Jesus was sitting there.

Suddenly, in dismay, I thought to myself, “He is my guest. I invited Him into my heart! He has come as my Savior and Friend, and yet I am neglecting Him.” I stopped, turned and hesitantly went in. With downcast glance, I said, “Master, forgive me. Have You been here all these mornings?”

“Yes,” He said, “I told you I would be here every morning to meet with you. Remember, I love you. I have redeemed you at great cost. I value your fellowship. Even if you cannot keep the quiet time for your own sake, do it for mine.”

The truth that Christ desires my companionship, that He wants me to be with Him and waits for me, has done more to transform my quiet time with God than any other single fact. Don’t let Christ wait alone in the living room of your heart, but every day find time when, with your Bible and in prayer, you may be together with Him.

The most impactful moment for me is when Jesus reminds me that he loves me. He wants fellowship with me and asks to come back so peacefully. Psalm 139 says, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." so I know that God put time, effort, and joy into writting my days in his book. If I had a friend on earth half as intentional and caring as God, I would want to spend every day with them.

These are the first three rooms in the story, I plan on doing another blog about the final rooms. I encourage you to read the short story for yourself. It is a great read and even better to pray through the rooms of your heart and see what Jesus asks.