"I love the sense of satisfaction that I get when I’ve done a swimming workout or race, and know that I gave my whole being and heart to God in every moment of the swim. It’s the best worship I can offer him."
Heart not proud
1 1 My heart is not proud, LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. 2 But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. 3 Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.If God is the all-powerful creator and sustainer of the universe, how can I possibly approach him? King David seems to give three answers in this short Psalm. Gerard Kelly calls them: “Humility, stillness and trust”.
Humility – as we approach God we remember that we are unworthy. We recognize how much we don’t know. We come to God not as Olympic champions or successful sportspeople but as sinners needing grace and forgiveness.
Stillness – we live in a world of noise and activity. In the car we listen to music constantly, we prepare for competition with the I-pod. We feel incomplete without the I-phone or I-pad in our hand. Stillness is alien to us. We need to leave them all aside as we meet with God creating “sacred space carved out from our stressful and self-focused activities”. (Kelly)
Trust – we need to know that childlike trust and contentment in God’s presence. We need to believe that our identity and significance is in who we are as children of God for whom Jesus died – not in our sporting achievements.
(In writing this I don’t mean to say that sporting achievements are not important or that God is not with us in the times of busyness. Rather, I am reflecting the Psalmist’s reference to the need for special times of stillness and focus on God).