‘My’ Conversion
Psalms 27:1 KJV
(1) <A Psalm of David.> The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
There is a huge difference between ‘the’ and ‘my’. The application of whatever ‘the’ is completely changes once it becomes ‘my’. A commitment of the soul by the conversion of the word brings life changing identity with the mere claim of possession.
I have a friend with whom I’ve recently engaged in discussions about the current presidential campaign. As he has expounded upon the virtues of the candidate he favors- all the reasons why he’s quite convinced this man will win- there was initially just the presentation of why he liked the guy. My thoughts on some of the issues seemed to bring some weight to his consideration as it appeared his heart was still leaning and not yet committed. My last encounter with this individual, however, revealed another step he has taken in his commitment to the candidate; he referred to him as ‘my man’. No longer was he just an individual that had garnered my friend’s passing favor, the nominee had become, at least to a certain extent, an identity, a very part of his own self image. His defense of this man and his positions had become more than just contention for the candidate, it had become self defense. What was interesting about this for me was once possession had been taken of this personality, is seemed that whatever that personality came up with, no matter how much it might have originally contradicted my friend’s heart or own convictions, was the ‘gospel’, the way things should and would be. Where before there had been open consideration of an opposing thought or conviction, with the possession willingness came to even forfeit the relationship we had developed for the sake of this new identity. The candidate hadn’t changed. He was the same man he was before he even began his campaign. A transformation most definitely came to my friend, however, when whoever this man is went from ‘the’ to ‘my’.
I love how David refers to God in this Psalm. It’s like He’s telling someone about a contender for his world that has gone from just a being out there with some pretty incredibly attributes to a Being right in here who has become David’s own possession, his own identity. God, for David, had definitely gone through a huge transformation in his perspective as David laid claim on God’s characteristics. While always ‘the’ light and ‘the’ salvation, if He had just existed in the ‘the’ realm for David, there could also be a coexisting identity of fear. To merely know about the elements of God’s characteristics would retain the possibility of a fear response to life’s threats. When qualities of God were given the ‘my’ conversion, however, when they were no longer just items displayed in a window, but purchased and owned possessions, God defense became self defense, and fear could no longer remain. Any opposing threats or even sounds, rather than given any consideration at all, were put into the realm of the absurd and annoyance. They could no longer even be acknowledged as viable threats.
‘The’ Light is shining bright today with more than sufficient salvation for every aspect of life. Where fear and consternation are dominating, though, ‘the’ Light has not gone through a ‘my’ conversion. For with the possession and embrace of the Light evidenced by a verbal declaration there will be an identity with its source that will remove anything and anyone as a legitimate motivation for fear. In worship there will be more than just an observation of His brightness, but there will be an embrace and identity with it that resists with great aversion any opposing consideration. The heart opened and receptive to the flood of this Light will be established in its righteousness- a position far from any terror or oppression that an enemy might pose. For this day and every one to follow, may there be a ‘my’ conversion that lays claim on the complete wholeness and salvation that has been bought and paid for by Jesus’ precious blood. It’s no longer just for observation- it’s to be possessed.