Incline My Heart

To incline is defined as “to bend the head or body forward.” It suggests movement, effort, and intentional direction. The psalmist’s prayer is strikingly honest. He does not assume his heart will naturally lean toward God’s ways. Instead, he asks the Lord to bend his heart—redirecting its posture toward divine truth and away from the pull of covetousness.

This bending is not passive. It implies resistance. Our hearts, left on their own, often prefer what is easy, comfortable, or immediately gratifying. Fixing our eyes on God’s testimonies requires effort, much like walking or running on a treadmill set to an incline. Flat ground is easier. Incline demands more breath, more focus, more strength. Muscles burn. Progress feels slower. Yet over time, the incline produces greater endurance and power than easy terrain ever could.

In the same way, choosing to incline our hearts toward God’s Word is harder work than giving in to covetous desires. Covetousness promises quick satisfaction but ultimately weakens the soul. God’s testimonies, however, train the heart. They stretch faith, build spiritual strength, and shape character that lasts.

The psalmist understood this. He does not pray for an easier path, but for a stronger heart—one bent forward in humble pursuit of God. He knows the outcome of inclination: deeper intimacy, steadier faith, and a life aligned with eternal purpose.

When God inclines our hearts, He is not burdening us; He is strengthening us. The incline may be uncomfortable, but it leads upward. And in the long run, a heart trained on God’s truth will outlast and outweigh every lesser desire.