OCT 31
October 31.
"May He incline our hearts toward Him—to walk in all His ways and to keep His commands, ordinances, and judgments." 1 Kings 8:58
We must be obedient and faithful—or else we forfeit the divine promises. We are "prone to wander" from God; our hearts are deceitful and incline to lead us away. Hence this prayer is a fit one to be always on our lips—that God may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments.
We are charged to keep our heart with all diligence. The heart is the fountain of all motive and action, and therefore it must be under constant guard. We in our weakness, cannot keep it ourselves, and hence the need of divine keeping .
Fenelon's prayer was, "Lord take my heart—for I cannot give it to you; and when you have it, oh, keep it—for I cannot keep it for you; and save me in spite of myself, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen." This is a good daily prayer for any of us. God will never compel us to be obedient; but he will grant to us the grace of his Holy Spirit, if we ask for it, and will incline us, draw us, help us. We need, therefore, to pray continually to him—to throw over us the mystic influence of his Spirit that we may seek to walk in God's ways.