One-minute read.
“Yoser” in Hebrew means upright, straight, integrity.1 The original language of the Canaanites and the official language of modern Israel, understanding a word’s definition helps gain context. What does praising the Lord with an upright heart mean? To me, I answer that question with one word: pure.
To praise God with an upright, straight, and integral heart means cleansing it of sin. Getting rid of the jealousy, hate, and bitterness purifies our soul and connects us to the Creator in a way we can’t achieve any other way. If we keep the Lord’s statutes, they help us stay on the right track by identifying the weeds and removing them.
Weeding a garden requires the ability to identify good and evil. Leave the healthy, vibrant plants, pull out the non-productive, life-sucking weeds. Tending the garden of our heart uses the same thought process. Keep the healthy fruit, prune the unhealthy. Become better, not bitter, by letting God search your heart, allowing His light to shine into the dark places, and removing them.
When you do, you will praise the Savior with an upright heart, and strive to keep His statutes even more. Let the Master Garden weed your heart and give you an abundant life.
Prayer:
Lord,
Thank You for purifying our hearts with Your divine light. Please help us quickly identify the weeds we need to get rid of in our soul and replace them with Your unconditional love, grace and mercy.
IJNIP. Amen
