Psalm 29 (NRSV)
1 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,a
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
worship the Lord in holy splendor.
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over mighty waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl,b
and strips the forest bare;
and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!
[1]
Lord,
This morning I want to affirm with the poet your glory and strength.
I want to affirm glory:
In the mystery of your being
In the majesty of creation
In the crisp cold air of a Midwestern January
And in the gentle breezes of a southern winter day
In the wonder of being alive
In the beauty of the senses
And the ability to absorb the majestic hues of day and night
In children and grandchildren
In all the is right and just and good
Lord there is not enough time nor do I have the words to declare your glory.
And your strength, I want to affirm your strength.
You speak and:
The universe is created
Lives are transformed
Nastiness becomes the opener to something good
Death becomes life
Crucifixion becomes resurrection.
Lord, give strength to your people.
Lord, give strength to me.
As I live through this day, give me eyes to behold your glory and a heart to receive your strength for the journey.
PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Name the places where you see God’s glory.
Ask for strength to meet the day.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
a Heb sons of gods
b Or causes the deer to calve
[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
psalm 28
Psalm 28 (NRSV)
3 Do not drag me away with the wicked,
with those who are workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors,
while mischief is in their hearts.
4 Repay them according to their work,
and according to the evil of their deeds;
repay them according to the work of their hands;
render them their due reward.
5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord,
or the work of his hands,
he will break them down and build them up no more.
6 Blessed be the Lord,
for he has heard the sound of my pleadings.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts;
so I am helped, and my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.
8 The Lord is the strength of his people;
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
9 O save your people, and bless your heritage;
be their shepherd, and carry them forever.
[1]
Lord,
Let me speak personally. It’s been a wonderful holiday season and it’s been aggravating beyond description and I have to confess that my heart has been a little shaky. I love the family Christmas gathering. Nearly everybody is there, brother and sister, nieces and nephews, in-laws and potential in-laws, children and grandchildren all together in one place. Only one family had to miss and while grieving their absence I am grateful for all who could gather. It was wonderful and that is the good part.
But there was the accident. I drove the car straight into the ditch and we had to be pulled out. We had to get a brake job. There was a nail in the tire. Our old puppy Christie nearly died and still may. Peggy took on a virus (we think) that completely disabled her for 36 hours. (I would tell you more but you already know and those sharing this prayer may not be able to pray and imagine her plight at the same time.) On the way home, the brakes started to smell and then we saw the smoke and then the garage discovered that a caliper on one of the brakes had frozen and nearly turned one brake pad to charcoal. Then we drove in rain that made us think that Noah’s ark was coming. O, and on the way home, Peggy accused me of being grumpy!
And I began to pray, “What’s wrong here?”
In the midst of all of this stuff, I want to remember that you are the strength of my heart. Help me to distinguish between things that are inconvenient or aggravating and things that are genuine problems. I confess that there were times when the aggravations were a little hard to handle.
While the dog is sick and the vet sent a substantial bill, some among us cannot afford to take medical care of their children. While our old car cost us some significant money (by our standards) others have no car at all. While we had to come back to work, some cry out for a chance to work. Lord, keep our perspective. Let perspective be a part of the confidence that we have in you.
So, I’m giving it to you Lord, confessing both my frustration and my gratitude which are all mixed up in the weeks surrounding Christmas.
Emmanuel, God is with us.
PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Ask God for the grace that you need for this new year.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989
3 Do not drag me away with the wicked,
with those who are workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors,
while mischief is in their hearts.
4 Repay them according to their work,
and according to the evil of their deeds;
repay them according to the work of their hands;
render them their due reward.
5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord,
or the work of his hands,
he will break them down and build them up no more.
6 Blessed be the Lord,
for he has heard the sound of my pleadings.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts;
so I am helped, and my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.
8 The Lord is the strength of his people;
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
9 O save your people, and bless your heritage;
be their shepherd, and carry them forever.
[1]
Lord,
Let me speak personally. It’s been a wonderful holiday season and it’s been aggravating beyond description and I have to confess that my heart has been a little shaky. I love the family Christmas gathering. Nearly everybody is there, brother and sister, nieces and nephews, in-laws and potential in-laws, children and grandchildren all together in one place. Only one family had to miss and while grieving their absence I am grateful for all who could gather. It was wonderful and that is the good part.
But there was the accident. I drove the car straight into the ditch and we had to be pulled out. We had to get a brake job. There was a nail in the tire. Our old puppy Christie nearly died and still may. Peggy took on a virus (we think) that completely disabled her for 36 hours. (I would tell you more but you already know and those sharing this prayer may not be able to pray and imagine her plight at the same time.) On the way home, the brakes started to smell and then we saw the smoke and then the garage discovered that a caliper on one of the brakes had frozen and nearly turned one brake pad to charcoal. Then we drove in rain that made us think that Noah’s ark was coming. O, and on the way home, Peggy accused me of being grumpy!
And I began to pray, “What’s wrong here?”
In the midst of all of this stuff, I want to remember that you are the strength of my heart. Help me to distinguish between things that are inconvenient or aggravating and things that are genuine problems. I confess that there were times when the aggravations were a little hard to handle.
While the dog is sick and the vet sent a substantial bill, some among us cannot afford to take medical care of their children. While our old car cost us some significant money (by our standards) others have no car at all. While we had to come back to work, some cry out for a chance to work. Lord, keep our perspective. Let perspective be a part of the confidence that we have in you.
So, I’m giving it to you Lord, confessing both my frustration and my gratitude which are all mixed up in the weeks surrounding Christmas.
Emmanuel, God is with us.
PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Ask God for the grace that you need for this new year.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989
Friday, December 19, 2008
Psalm 28
Psalm 28 (NRSV)
1 To you, O Lord, I call;
my rock, do not refuse to hear me,
for if you are silent to me,
I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
2 Hear the voice of my supplication,
as I cry to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
toward your most holy sanctuary.a
Lord,
Please hear me, hear my plea for help. You have entrusted a great opportunity into my hands, a chance to contribute to the lives of men and women who have responded to your call to serve as leaders in Christ’s church. What a remarkable crowd this is, these who have heard your invitation and answered by giving their lives to the ministry of Christ and church. What a remarkable vocation this is, representing your people in prayer to you and representing you to your people in proclamation! And I have been invited to be of service in this holy arena within your Kingdom. If I feel a little unworthy and perhaps more than a little daunted, please understand.
This morning, I ask for help in being a good steward of the ministry that has been given to me. Grant me wisdom to do those things that will best serve your people in ministry and, through the ministers, serve your church and Christ.
Only 6 days to Christmas and pastors are preparing Christmas and Christmas Eve worship services. The only thing I can offer today is a prayer. Let the spirit of Christ, whose life we celebrate in this season, empower all that is done so that your people might know, love, and serve him more fully.
PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Ask for the special grace that you need from God in this season.
Give thanks for women and men who are serving as ministerial leaders in our churches and communities.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
a Heb your innermost sanctuary
1 To you, O Lord, I call;
my rock, do not refuse to hear me,
for if you are silent to me,
I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
2 Hear the voice of my supplication,
as I cry to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
toward your most holy sanctuary.a
Lord,
Please hear me, hear my plea for help. You have entrusted a great opportunity into my hands, a chance to contribute to the lives of men and women who have responded to your call to serve as leaders in Christ’s church. What a remarkable crowd this is, these who have heard your invitation and answered by giving their lives to the ministry of Christ and church. What a remarkable vocation this is, representing your people in prayer to you and representing you to your people in proclamation! And I have been invited to be of service in this holy arena within your Kingdom. If I feel a little unworthy and perhaps more than a little daunted, please understand.
This morning, I ask for help in being a good steward of the ministry that has been given to me. Grant me wisdom to do those things that will best serve your people in ministry and, through the ministers, serve your church and Christ.
Only 6 days to Christmas and pastors are preparing Christmas and Christmas Eve worship services. The only thing I can offer today is a prayer. Let the spirit of Christ, whose life we celebrate in this season, empower all that is done so that your people might know, love, and serve him more fully.
PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Ask for the special grace that you need from God in this season.
Give thanks for women and men who are serving as ministerial leaders in our churches and communities.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
a Heb your innermost sanctuary
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
psalm 27
Psalm 27 (NRSV)
4 One thing I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.
6 Now my head is lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,
be gracious to me and answer me!
8 “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
Your face, Lord, do I seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me.
Do not turn your servant away in anger,
you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
10 If my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will take me up.
11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they are breathing out violence.
13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!
[1]
Lord,
In one line, the poet is full of confidence and in the next he is not so sure. In one line, he knows that you will protect him and in the next he is begging for protection as though his firm confidence is losing its grip.
Confidence: “For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble….”
Less confidence: “Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!”
Confidence Again: “If my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up.”
So why is this important to me? Why do I see this so quickly? It is as though my heart is looking into the mirror image of itself: faith and less faith, confidence and less confidence and not confidence and then confidence again. I know all about that!
So, Lord, I say to myself as the poet said, “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! “
For you I wait, seeking strength for the season and courage for all that meets me today.
It’s the Advent season and the economy is going into the tank. Never in my life have I seen such a conspiracy between the corrupt and the incompetent in high places. And the irony is this, if a man steals a purse, he can go to jail. When a man drives a company into the ditch and thousands of people lose jobs and health care and pensions, that man gets a golden parachute! I know, it’s not the same but there ought to be some kind of accountability somewhere. From those, to whom much is given, much is required.
Lord, it’s all above me. Help us please,
PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Ask God for the courage and faith that you need for today.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989
4 One thing I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.
6 Now my head is lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,
be gracious to me and answer me!
8 “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
Your face, Lord, do I seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me.
Do not turn your servant away in anger,
you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
10 If my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will take me up.
11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they are breathing out violence.
13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!
[1]
Lord,
In one line, the poet is full of confidence and in the next he is not so sure. In one line, he knows that you will protect him and in the next he is begging for protection as though his firm confidence is losing its grip.
Confidence: “For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble….”
Less confidence: “Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!”
Confidence Again: “If my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up.”
So why is this important to me? Why do I see this so quickly? It is as though my heart is looking into the mirror image of itself: faith and less faith, confidence and less confidence and not confidence and then confidence again. I know all about that!
So, Lord, I say to myself as the poet said, “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! “
For you I wait, seeking strength for the season and courage for all that meets me today.
It’s the Advent season and the economy is going into the tank. Never in my life have I seen such a conspiracy between the corrupt and the incompetent in high places. And the irony is this, if a man steals a purse, he can go to jail. When a man drives a company into the ditch and thousands of people lose jobs and health care and pensions, that man gets a golden parachute! I know, it’s not the same but there ought to be some kind of accountability somewhere. From those, to whom much is given, much is required.
Lord, it’s all above me. Help us please,
PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Ask God for the courage and faith that you need for today.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989
Monday, December 15, 2008
Psalm 27
Psalm 27 (NRSV)
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strongholda of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me
to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—
they shall stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident.
Lord,
The poet prays, “Yet I will be confident”. And his confidence is grounded in the reality that “the Lord is the stronghold of my life.”
Today I pray with the poet, “You are the stronghold of my life. You are the one on whom I rely. You are the source of strength and wisdom and grace.
The days come, as they came for the poets of the Psalms, that are filled with danger and very good reasons to be afraid. How many do we know who are: Facing death, gravely ill, fearful for a child or spouse or parent, struggling with the current economic melt-down, jobless or homeless or barely squeaking by in some other way, caught in webs spun by immoral and unethical people. The harsh truth is that bad things really do happen to good people.
The poets knew well the harsh realities of life in this broken and sinful world and still this poet prays, “The Lord is the stronghold of my life…Yet I will be confident.” Let this be my prayer today.
As we move towards Christmas morning and the celebration of Jesus’ birth, we are aware of your greater remedy for the darkness in this world. We are aware of the one who opened, in fresh ways, the doors of heaven so that we might again experience the grace of your spirit and the salvation that you want for all.
In the days before Christmas, I say again to you, You are the stronghold of my life and I will be confident.
PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Remember the hymn that says, “Give to the winds thy fears, hope and be undismayed….”
Ask for the assurance of the presence the gives confidence for today.
Name 5 people who are struggling with life’s harsh realities and ask God to be present to each one.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
a Or refuge
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strongholda of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me
to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—
they shall stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident.
Lord,
The poet prays, “Yet I will be confident”. And his confidence is grounded in the reality that “the Lord is the stronghold of my life.”
Today I pray with the poet, “You are the stronghold of my life. You are the one on whom I rely. You are the source of strength and wisdom and grace.
The days come, as they came for the poets of the Psalms, that are filled with danger and very good reasons to be afraid. How many do we know who are: Facing death, gravely ill, fearful for a child or spouse or parent, struggling with the current economic melt-down, jobless or homeless or barely squeaking by in some other way, caught in webs spun by immoral and unethical people. The harsh truth is that bad things really do happen to good people.
The poets knew well the harsh realities of life in this broken and sinful world and still this poet prays, “The Lord is the stronghold of my life…Yet I will be confident.” Let this be my prayer today.
As we move towards Christmas morning and the celebration of Jesus’ birth, we are aware of your greater remedy for the darkness in this world. We are aware of the one who opened, in fresh ways, the doors of heaven so that we might again experience the grace of your spirit and the salvation that you want for all.
In the days before Christmas, I say again to you, You are the stronghold of my life and I will be confident.
PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Remember the hymn that says, “Give to the winds thy fears, hope and be undismayed….”
Ask for the assurance of the presence the gives confidence for today.
Name 5 people who are struggling with life’s harsh realities and ask God to be present to each one.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
a Or refuge
Friday, December 12, 2008
Psalm 26
Psalm 26 (NRSV)
6 I wash my hands in innocence,
and go around your altar, O Lord,
7 singing aloud a song of thanksgiving,
and telling all your wondrous deeds.
8 O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell,
and the place where your glory abides.
9 Do not sweep me away with sinners,
nor my life with the bloodthirsty,
10 those in whose hands are evil devices,
and whose right hands are full of bribes.
11 But as for me, I walk in my integrity;
redeem me, and be gracious to me.
12 My foot stands on level ground;
in the great congregation I will bless the Lord.
[1]
Lord,
Help me to pray with the poet, “I walk in my integrity.” In the midst of all that life brings, all that is wonderful and all that is painful, grant me the grace to remember who I am; one of your sons, a follower of Jesus Christ, an “Image-of-God” human being, one who enjoys the grace that you give. Help me to never forget the two great commandments of life, to love you with all of my being and to love my neighbor as I love myself. Keep me grounded in the community of Your Spirit and grant me the grace of joyful worship.
The poet prays, “Do not sweep me away with sinners.” I pray, forgive me my sin and do not abandon me because of my mistakes and misdeeds. Grow me to be the man that you intended in my birth so many years ago.
And in all things, I will remember to say “thank you” both in public and private places.
PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Ask God to help you to remember your core identity as a child of God.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989
6 I wash my hands in innocence,
and go around your altar, O Lord,
7 singing aloud a song of thanksgiving,
and telling all your wondrous deeds.
8 O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell,
and the place where your glory abides.
9 Do not sweep me away with sinners,
nor my life with the bloodthirsty,
10 those in whose hands are evil devices,
and whose right hands are full of bribes.
11 But as for me, I walk in my integrity;
redeem me, and be gracious to me.
12 My foot stands on level ground;
in the great congregation I will bless the Lord.
[1]
Lord,
Help me to pray with the poet, “I walk in my integrity.” In the midst of all that life brings, all that is wonderful and all that is painful, grant me the grace to remember who I am; one of your sons, a follower of Jesus Christ, an “Image-of-God” human being, one who enjoys the grace that you give. Help me to never forget the two great commandments of life, to love you with all of my being and to love my neighbor as I love myself. Keep me grounded in the community of Your Spirit and grant me the grace of joyful worship.
The poet prays, “Do not sweep me away with sinners.” I pray, forgive me my sin and do not abandon me because of my mistakes and misdeeds. Grow me to be the man that you intended in my birth so many years ago.
And in all things, I will remember to say “thank you” both in public and private places.
PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Ask God to help you to remember your core identity as a child of God.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
psalm 26
Psalm 26 (NRSV)
1 Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
test my heart and mind.
3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in faithfulness to you.a
4 I do not sit with the worthless,
nor do I consort with hypocrites;
5 I hate the company of evildoers,
and will not sit with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands in innocence,
and go around your altar, O Lord,
7 singing aloud a song of thanksgiving,
and telling all your wondrous deeds.
Lord,
This poet is making his case. He needs your help, and so do I, and he is pleading his worthiness. Look at his claim: integrity, trust, and faithfulness. And what has he avoided? He has steered clear of the worthless, hypocrites, evildoers and the wicked. And then he claims the merit of worship – singing and testimony. This is really good stuff, excellent behavior, and virtue worthy of God’s reward.
But, isn’t there always a “but”? we know that if this poet is David, it was not always true. He did some pretty nasty things, things that deserve the label of “moral depravity”, do you remember Bathsheba and Uriah? Maybe he wrote this before the fall.
I don’t want to belittle the virtues and behavior that he claims. Integrity, trust, faithfulness are good things and refusing to succumb to the influence of bad people is always commendable. Lord, I pray that those virtues will be mine. But I also know that while there is nothing in my history to match the moral depravity that David demonstrated with Bathsheba and Uriah, neither can I claim untainted virtue.
So, Lord I am left to pray, help me to be as virtuous as I can be and forgive me when I fail. While I want to stand before you with good character and some achievements and the claim of contributions made to your world, I know that I will forever be indebted to your forgiveness and grace. I know that I will forever be dependent on the grace of Christ and for that grace I pray.
PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Ask God to help you to do the right thing in the right way at the right time.
Ask God’s forgiveness for your failures.
Rest securely in the Gospel of Christ.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen
a Or in your faithfulness
1 Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
test my heart and mind.
3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in faithfulness to you.a
4 I do not sit with the worthless,
nor do I consort with hypocrites;
5 I hate the company of evildoers,
and will not sit with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands in innocence,
and go around your altar, O Lord,
7 singing aloud a song of thanksgiving,
and telling all your wondrous deeds.
Lord,
This poet is making his case. He needs your help, and so do I, and he is pleading his worthiness. Look at his claim: integrity, trust, and faithfulness. And what has he avoided? He has steered clear of the worthless, hypocrites, evildoers and the wicked. And then he claims the merit of worship – singing and testimony. This is really good stuff, excellent behavior, and virtue worthy of God’s reward.
But, isn’t there always a “but”? we know that if this poet is David, it was not always true. He did some pretty nasty things, things that deserve the label of “moral depravity”, do you remember Bathsheba and Uriah? Maybe he wrote this before the fall.
I don’t want to belittle the virtues and behavior that he claims. Integrity, trust, faithfulness are good things and refusing to succumb to the influence of bad people is always commendable. Lord, I pray that those virtues will be mine. But I also know that while there is nothing in my history to match the moral depravity that David demonstrated with Bathsheba and Uriah, neither can I claim untainted virtue.
So, Lord I am left to pray, help me to be as virtuous as I can be and forgive me when I fail. While I want to stand before you with good character and some achievements and the claim of contributions made to your world, I know that I will forever be indebted to your forgiveness and grace. I know that I will forever be dependent on the grace of Christ and for that grace I pray.
PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Ask God to help you to do the right thing in the right way at the right time.
Ask God’s forgiveness for your failures.
Rest securely in the Gospel of Christ.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen
a Or in your faithfulness
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