Prone to Wander
With my whole heart I have sought Thee;
O let me not wander from Thy commandments.
― Psalm 119:10
Charles Bridges (1794-1869) was a vicar and leader in the Evangelical party of the Church of England. While Bridges was famous for his preaching during his day, he is now known for the many books and commentaries he left behind. He is most likely best known for his work, The Christian Ministry.
In addition to other works, Charles Bridges wrote An Exposition of Psalm 119, a brief but powerful verse-by-verse look at the longest chapter in the Bible.
On verse 10 of Psalm 119, Charles Bridges writes,
Attention to the word, however important, can never be practically effective without earnest prayer.
Attention to the word, however important, can never be practically effective without earnest prayer. Indeed this is the character of the Lord’s people, “a generation of seekers” (Psalm 24:6); and yet how much do we lose to the glory of religion, and obscure the glory of our profession, by neglecting to bring “our whole heart” to this work! When sin is vigorous, and our spiritual affections are dull, and various hindrances combine in prayer, at this crisis strong faith is needed to overcome and to persevere. But here the soul too commonly yields to difficulty, and contents itself either with heartless complainings, or with just sufficient exertion to quiet the voice of conscience, and produce a delusive peace within. But the Lord will not be found thus. His promise is not to such seekers as these; and if we are satisfied with this state, we must look for a scanty measure of spiritual success, accompanied with the total absence of spiritual enjoyment. In a far different spirit David could appeal—“with my whole heart I have sought Thee.” And this assurance, instead of producing self-confidence, will, so far as it is genuine, invariably show itself in a prayerful acknowledgement of our weakness—“O let me not wander from Thy commandments.”
O let me not wander from Thy commandments.
Yet the feeblest desire and attempt to seek the Lord is the Spirit’s rising beam in the heart, a day of small things not to be despised. It is distinguished from any other principle by the simplicity of its object—“This one thing I do. One thing have I desired of the Lord; that will I seek after.” My God! My Savior! With my whole heart I have sought Thee. “The desire of my soul is to Thy name, and to the remembrance of Thee. With my soul I have desired Thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek Thee early.”
Lord, I feel my heart to be weak and prone to wander. My affections are often scattered to the ends of the earth. “Unite my heart to fear Thy name.” Concentrate every thought, every desire, in Thyself, as the one object of attraction.
When the soul is thus conscious of “following the Lord fully,” there is a particular dread of wandering. In a careless or half-hearted state, wanderings are not watched, so long as they do not lead to any open declension. Secret prayer will be hurried over, worldly thought unresisted, waste of time in frivolous pursuits indulged, without much concern. Not so, when the heart is fully in pursuit of its object. There is a carefulness, lest wandering in the thoughts should become habitual. There is a resistance of the first step, that might lead into a devious path. The soul remembers the “wormwood and the gall,” “the roaring lion,” and the devouring wolf; and in the recollection of the misery of its former wandering, dreads any departure from the Shepherd’s fold. This blessed state of mind the flock of Christ should cherish with godly jealousy. Yet let it be remembered, that daily progress in the heavenly walk is not maintained by yesterday’s grace. Humble and dependent prayer must fetch a fresh supply continually—“O let me not wander from Thy commandments.” ‘Lord, I feel my heart to be weak and prone to wander. My affections are often scattered to the ends of the earth. “Unite my heart to fear Thy name.” Concentrate every thought, every desire, in Thyself, as the one object of attraction.’