Tuesday, July 15, 2014

A Prayer of Trust in God -- Part Two - Taken from Psalm 4

O Father, when men think of Your attributes - that You are completely self-Sufficient, and need nothing outside of Yourself, that You are Sovereign over everything (each atom, each molecule, each thought, each word) You created, that You are Holy, Powerful, Faithful, Good, Patient, Gracious, Merciful, and Full of Wrath - they ought to tremble.  They ought not to sin.

I meditate in my heart when I lie in bed, still, before You.  I offer You the sacrifices of my righteousness - mortifying the flesh, putting to death those sinful thoughts and words and deeds that You, my Saviour, already died for.  How dare I fear?  How could I whine and complain and fret and worry?  The God of the Universe is on my side, and He Who Does Not Lie has promised never to leave me, nor forsake me.  I trust in the Living God.

Lord, it grieves me that the world cries out, "Who will show us any good?"  They see your goodness every day, in the rising of the sun, in the food on their table, in the smile of a lover... and yet, they are NEVER satisfied.

Charles Spurgeon wrote, "Never satisfied, their gaping mouths are turned in every direction, their empty hearts are ready to drink in any fine delusion which impostors may invent; and when these fail, they soon yield to despair, and declare that there is no good thing in either heaven or earth."  How terrible.  How tragic.  Lord, may my thoughts be ever turned towards You, and may I always remember that You are the fountain of life!

Lift up the light of Your countenance on me, O my God.  You have put gladness in my heart.  Whether or not I prosper, I have You, and You are enough.

Fill me with Your Spirit, O God, and let me ever sing Your praises.  Keep me from the temptation of looking at my circumstances and responding like the foolish.  Let me never sit up to watch through fear, but let me lie down upon my bed in peace, knowing that You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.

In lying down to sleep, I put my trust in You.  I let the cares of the day go, and rest in Your unfailing love, and in Your power to keep me all through the night.

You are so good to me.

I am forever grateful.

In Jesus' name, I pray.


Monday, July 14, 2014

You are not dirty even in the mud.

A Prayer of Trust in God - Part One - Taken from Psalm 4

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness. Even that statement is amazing.   I have no righteousness in me, apart from that which YOU imputed to me by Your grace.  You are so kind to me.  You have, again and again, relieved me in my distress.  You have proved Yourself steadfast and faithful, even when I am fickle and faithless.  You have always been gracious to me, and You have always heard my feeble, sometimes fervent, prayers.  Hear me now, my Gracious Father.  Have mercy on me.

I face Your enemies every day, O Lord.  I am surrounded by those who treat Your word as a joke, and Your ways as a jest.  It was ever so.   They mocked You when You walked this dusty earth, teaching them to good news, showing them the way.  They rejected the truth.  How long will foolish men continue to love worthless fabrications, and strive towards vain, deceptive conceits?  I must stop, and think, and meditate upon the deep-seated folly of the wicked.  Their destruction is sure.  The only difference between them and me is the admirable grace of God, which has taught me to love truth and seek after righteousness.  If it weren't for the fact that You rescued me, I'd be facing the same sure destruction.

Lord, I know (and all men should know) that You have set the godly apart for Yourself.  Just as I set my mother's and grandmother's dishes apart, to be used only during a special occasion, You set me apart for Your good purposes.  You hear when I call to You.  I am Your treasure.

Thank You that You ordain my steps, and order every single event that happens to me each day.

Thank You for reminding me that no matter how I stumble, I am forever clean in  You.

Thank You for this:

http://youtu.be/wzoMl-VFa2Q