For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! Psalm 143:11
Last week, I shared with you how I have been challenged of late to allow God to clean out the "selfish, sinful garbage that is stinking up my heart." (based on Psalm 51:10). Continuing in this vain, this week I am specifically challenged to examine the meditations of my heart especially, when I am overwhelmed by life circumstances.
In his devotion New Morning Mercies (highly recommend this, btw), Paul David Tripp writes: "Biblical faith looks reality in the face and does not flinch." Instead, "...it examines reality, but it makes the Lord its meditation." Last Sunday, our church's pastor touched on taking your thoughts captive in obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10).
King David's psalm written thousands of years ago, has given me the perfect prayer to set my heart on God. I share it with you now as our devotional today. I encourage you to make it your prayer as well. In my Bible, I highlighted verses 1,4,6,8,10, & 11.
Psalm 143
1 Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
2 Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you.
3 For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
4 Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled.
5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.
6 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.
Selah
7 Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord! I have fled to you for refuge.
10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!
11 For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant.
As you pray and worship God today, lift up a prayer for the people impacted by Hurricane Helene this past week. My heart is particularly focused on the people of Western NC where I have many friends and is like a 2nd home for my family. May the good people there make God their meditation in the midst of their trouble!
Have a great day in the Lord!
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