Youth, Maturity & Honor

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Psalm 34:10
The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

When I consider today’s passage I think about the lack of maturity in a young lion. I remember seeing a documentary that followed a lion pride. The oldest lioness led her younger female companions in greeting a young lion because in their youth none of them knew what to do to establish their pride. Through her experience and wisdom the oldest lioness was able to show the other adult lions in the pride how to survive and protect themselves from other lions external to their pride who may attempt to take over the pride (which involved killing any young cubs because the lion would only want his progeny).

As I reflected on this passage tonight, I saw how I have not always been respectful of mature leaders around me for various reasons. 

I am learning to honor others for the sake of being honorable and that means that I may not agree with or like those that lead me. I have a mentor in my life and I really appreciate him and his wife because they carry a lot of wisdom. I try to meet with them often as I glean from them and a lot of what I have become is because of their prayers and guidance. In contrast, with other leaders I have not always engaged them well. I am learning to work out issues that I have with these other leaders in my life. With some of the other leaders I have had to speak with them about explicitly or implicitly unfulfilled expectations. In other instances, I had to take my concerns to the throne of God and leave them there. In all cases, it is incumbent upon me to learn to honor them well. I do not want to suffer want or hunger because I fail to honor leaders in my life.

I have been praying and asking the LORD for wisdom and the heart to honor others well. I want to always have a pure motive in every situation and towards everybody. I’m learning and growing in grace. I cannot mature in the LORD Jesus Christ without grace. Lately, I’ve been asking the LORD for more grace. I have a better understanding of grace and my need for it. For a year now, I have needed grace to be able to pray and seek the LORD during the fourth watch of the day. I try to rise early to begin my day with prayer. I can keep my preferred prayer time on some days and on other days I cannot due to time conflicts. Lastly, some days I cannot keep my preferred prayer time because of a lack of discipline. No matter my circumstance, I choose to seek the LORD throughout the day and this has kept me in communion with the LORD. I look forward to being well adjusted in my early morning devotion which includes prayer, worship, bible study, and meditation. I know that when I’m consistent in seeking Adonai that I truly will lack no good thing!

Prayer:
Almighty God, I acknowledge You in the Name of the LORD Jesus Christ. I call you the Good Sheppard. Because of Your love and care I lack nothing. You are just to provide for all of creation. You rain on the just and the unjust. Adonai Shamma, thank You for being present with me always. You have never left me alone. In harrowing times, You have met me in prayer and worship as I came broken before you. Help me and Your children to remain broken, contrite and humble so that we can forever seek You. Help us receive the pour from the cup of our elders and leaders. What we receive from You, our elders and leaders is invaluable. Thank You. Amen.  

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​written by Myrina K. Robinson
Duke Divinity School MDiv 2022
Guest Blogger for BWET Blog ​