Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Time for another baseball lesson.

My father attended all my games. When I would do something right he would swell with pride and say “That’s my boy.”

One game I remember well, because I didn’t do so well. I came up against the opposing pitcher who had a fastball I had never seen before. It wasn’t an unknown pitch, just one I had never seen thrown at me. It was a rising fastball. He struck me out with three pitches. It was the first time I’d ever been struck out with three pitches.

My father shook his head and said, “That’s my boy.” It wasn’t with the same enthusiasm as before but he still acknowledged our relationship. After every game, win or lose, we would go out for a tasty freeze.

This day he sat across from me and calmly asked, “Do you know what you did wrong?” I could only answer, “I went chasing fastballs.” His answer pulled it all into perspective.

“I taught you to hit strikes.”

God the Father teaches us to chase after righteousness and not to chase after what you think looks good.

Proverbs 21:21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

His lessons are calm, accurate, and appropriate to the moment.

Proverbs 2:9-11 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

I stopped chasing rising fastballs and went back to chasing strikes.

My Father smiles quietly.

2 Samuel 7:22 Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

What have you been hearing? Witness of faithful Christians? Tales of miracles? Praise reports of answered prayers? All good stuff yet when I see this passage I think about what I have heard from non-Christians. The more and more I hear from non-Christians the more and more I know I am on the right path.

I once asked a Buddhist woman why she is a Buddhist. Her reply. “Buddha teaches me to be a kinder person.” I asked her, “Won’t any twelve step program do the same for you?” A puzzled look came across her face and she turned away without answering.

Many of the religions of this world leave it up to the individual to do what is necessary to adhere to standards they struggled with without any help. They offer nothing in the way of real help in adhering to standards or easy of conscience when they cannot keep to the code.

My God doesn’t leave it up to me. He did what I could not do. Now rather than being left alone to struggle with obedience, He has given me faith and a Comforter to help me do that which I could not do alone. Even those religions which espouse faith have not the same faith which establishes direct communion with the everlasting God.

Psalm 4:4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

You can only commune with God in your heart when He abides in your heart.

Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

No other religion makes this offer.