Incline

When we hear the word incline, our mind usually pictures a train going up a steep hill or a photo of a cyclist trying to power their way up a steep road in the mountains during the Tour De France.

Yet the word incline also means to

Be willing or favorably disposed to an idea or action
To have a tendency to do a specific thing
To lean or turn away from a given direction.
To bend one’s head forward and downward.

If you think about it, in our life, as a Christian, all four of these definitions of incline should be part of our life. However, inclining our ear, our heart, our will, our mind, is not easy. The news, advertising, friends, posters, music, tv shows, and movies are all urging us to do what feels right for us. To do what makes us feel comfortable and happy. All the while God’s word says in Proverbs 2:2, “So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom.”
Our ear is bent by so many people and ideas in the course of the day, that we naturally incline to what feels the easiest. But we are missing out on something important. Wisdom, fellowship, communion with God!
When we start to be inclined to make money or make a name for ourselves any inclination toward God is generally pushed to the side. Throughout the book of Jeremiah, the prophet is warning the people of this very thing. Jeremiah warns them of the trouble and punishment to come, yet the verses say things like, “But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear.” (Jeremiah 7:24) They would not listen to what God said, and before long Israel went into captivity.

How can we be inclined toward God?

Ask for help – Psalm 119:36, 141:4
If your life/heart is not inclined toward God, ask Him for help!

The Psalmist asks for help in two ways.
a. Psalm 119:36 – He asks for his heart to be inclined to God’s testimonies.
b. Psalm 141:4 – He asks for his heart to NOT be inclined to any evil thing.

He knew what he needed to be inclined to and what to avoid. Like the Psalmist we need to have a desire to both be inclined to God’s word and inclined away from evil.

2. Choosing to incline – Psalm 49:4, 119:112
Inclining. This like everything else in life is a choice. It is a choice we must make every day and often multiple times throughout our day. We cannot just flip a switch and naturally be inclined to God every moment of the day; we must choose to be inclined!

Two verses popped up where someone is speaking of their choice to incline.
In Psalm 119:112, the Psalmist says, “I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes always, even unto the end.” The Psalmist made a decision, he took a stand, he chose to incline his heart to obey God’s word. What choice will we make?

Another point to make is that inclining is not one-sided. We don’t incline to God, and that’s it. Psalm 40:1 and 116:2, show us, God, inclining toward us.
Psalm 40:1 – He will incline His ear and hear our cry.
Psalm 116:2 – Here the Psalmist realized that God did, in fact, incline His ear to him and in the Psalmist joy and excitement of learning this fact he says, “Therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.”
In Georgia, there is a mountain named Lookout Mountain. To get to the top of this mountain, they built a railroad that goes straight up the side of the mountain. It took thought, work, time, money, sweat, and determination to make this railroad. When the railroad was completed access was available to anyone who wanted to reach the top of the mountain and people were able to live there and enjoy the amazing view from the top of lookout mountain.

Inclining our heart to God and the things of God seems like a monumental task. But each step we take, each choice we make brings us closer to Him and to great access/fellowship with Him which is far greater than anything this world has to offer.

Enjoy the Adventure!

Aimée