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There are many temptations to a man to wander in doubt and uncertainty. He is driven hither and thither by doubts of self, of God, of revelation, of the past, and of the future. But there is no rest for that man until he is able to exclaim, "My heart is fixed."

I. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF POSITIVE RELIGION.

1. The word "positive" is a species of cant phrase much used by doubters and Agnostics. But in this case we may strictly apply it to the state of a true believer. The inquirer has reached a state of satisfaction. He has found what he needed. There is for him now no further tossing about on the tempest of fear or anxiety.

2. There is something very blessed in this state of satisfaction. It is that of a mariner having arrived in port, of a student having attained the goal he coveted, the architect having seen the realization of his plans.

3. This state, too, is essentially a religious one. Nothing earthly can afford positiveness. There can be no certainty in any human act or any human hope; but in the search after God there can be, and is, perfect finality.

II. THIS STATE OF SATISFACTION IS A STATE OF PRAISE.

1. The key to open the door of heaven is praise. The solution of all doubts is praise. The end of all difficulties is praise.

2. The state, then, of our own miserable darkness and unrest rests upon the fact that we are always looking on ourselves, not on God. If we look on ourselves, we shall naturally see our own defects, sorrows. But if we look to His brightness we shall lose sight of all that is dark, and in His certainty we shall find an eternal stand and an unchanging hope.

(Homilist.)

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KJV: My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.

WEB: My heart is steadfast, God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises.