The reason New Year’s resolutions fade more quickly than the flowers of the field is passion; specifically, the lack of passion. We all know what’s good for us, at least we think we do, but we’re not passionate. That’s why they are resolutions. We are resolving to make changes. We are passionate about lying on the sofa and watching TV, and we are not passionate about going to the gym. So we resolve to change our passions. Most efforts fail…passions are powerful.

The deepest passions are discovered in the heart of the psalmists. I read through the Bible each year. I love all of God’s Word, however, I always find myself more passionate about everything in life as I read the heart of the psalmist. I am currently reading through Psalms. Listen to King David and his passion for the Lord…

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up

and have not let my foes rejoice over me.

²  O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,

and you have healed me.

³  O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;

you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

⁴  Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,

and give thanks to his holy name.

⁵  For his anger is but for a moment,

and his favor is for a lifetime.

Weeping may tarry for the night,

but joy comes with the morning.

(Psalm 30:1-5, ESV)

Now, before I make my main point I want you to understand three things about this passage of Scripture.

#1 David may have been king, but his life was anything but comfortable. Notice the first three verses David is rejoicing in the fact that his enemies aren’t. He sees the Lord as a Restorer and Healer. David had enemies, inside his family and outside his nation.

#2 The Lord wasn’t always happy with David’s actions. David knew what it felt like to receive God’s anger. Verse four and five acknowledge the Lord’s anger which is momentary and his favor which is eternal in David’s life.

#3 David is rejoicing in the Lord, NOT his kingship. Read David’s story in the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles. Read about David’s passion in the Psalms. You will never see David passionate about being king. You will only see David passionate about the Lord.

This doesn’t mean that we can’t see David’s joy in serving as king of Israel. It’s easy to see. David took his job very seriously. David showed up for work and carried out his duties with great zeal and passion. Not because he was king, but because he was God’s anointed and he knew it.

So, here’s my main point. If David would have remained a shepherd and not been ordained by God to lead Israel as king, but ordained by God to simply shepherd a field of sheep, Psalm 30 verses one through five would have been David’s song anyway. Nothing about David’s passion would change. I don’t believe that one word of this Psalm would change whether David is a shepherd or king.

I could give you a progress report this week that included things like strategy, study, and simulation. All those things happened this week. They all pale in comparison to my journey with David through the Psalms and my discovery of passion for the Lord and what HE is doing.

Legacy is only possible with passion. Passion is only possible with the Lord.