"Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God...
But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness. Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters. Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me. Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me. Hide not your face from your servant; for I am in distress; make haste to answer me. Draw near to my soul, redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies! ...
I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive...
For the LORD hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners. Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them. For God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah, and people shall dwell there and possess it; the offspring of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall dwell in it."
excerpts from Psalm 69
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"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
Revelation 21:4
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I'm enjoying a time of thinking. I have missed it. I'm grateful for this little moment I have. I feel almost like the couple in "the Notebook" - grateful for the moments of clarity I have, aware they can change with the flip of a switch or a honk of a horn. So, I'll type now, while I can. While the ability is there. For even that ability (and the time) is a gift.
David wrote in Psalm 69 a glimpse of his thoughts in the midst of a trial. He was in the waves. And sinking with nothing to hold onto. He was crying. He was weary. His energy was gone. Ever cry so hard it hurts to cry and you can't see clearly? I have. According to Psalm 69, David has too.
I'm grateful God chose to include weak, weary cries in the Bible. I am so often weak. And weary. Reading these prayers gives me hope for several reasons. First, because in my own pride, I tend to want to fix problems. David in his humility cried. That's a lesson I pray I am slowly learning. But it gives me hope, also, because David clearly points us not to his problem, but rather, to his Hope. David, in his own strength has no more power than the statue in the picture. He can't even cry out without God's strength working in his life.
David is weary. But His Lord is not. His prayer does not fall on a deaf or limited God - NO! they come right to the ears of the all-powerful Creator God. And David has confidence in that power. In the right timing, God WILL deliver. David didn't pray "answer me God, because I'm coming in faith" or "answer me because I'm worth it." No, he rested his confidence not on his feelings or situation, rather on the unchanging character of his God. "answer me, because you are good... because you are full of abundant mercy."
That's why David was able to sing. Right there, in the midst of pain, struggling, parched voice from all the crying... He's singing. His eyes are tired from waiting... he is sinking in this overwhelming flood and He's singing! He's thanking God in the midst of weary pain. That thanksgiving, empowered by the Spirit, from a weak, parched disciple, pleases God and encourages His children. How amazing! Grace, given as a gift from God, working through weak, weary sinners, is used to encourage faith, magnify God's greatness and even please God himself!
God hears! God knows our needs and is more than competent and willing to show himself faithful. He will save - not only temporarily by providing relief at times, but by giving us a future hope... a future inheritance... a future with no more cries.
But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness. Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters. Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me. Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me. Hide not your face from your servant; for I am in distress; make haste to answer me. Draw near to my soul, redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies! ...
I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive...
For the LORD hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners. Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them. For God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah, and people shall dwell there and possess it; the offspring of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall dwell in it."
excerpts from Psalm 69
------------------------------------------------------
"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
Revelation 21:4
------------------------------------------------------
I'm enjoying a time of thinking. I have missed it. I'm grateful for this little moment I have. I feel almost like the couple in "the Notebook" - grateful for the moments of clarity I have, aware they can change with the flip of a switch or a honk of a horn. So, I'll type now, while I can. While the ability is there. For even that ability (and the time) is a gift.
David wrote in Psalm 69 a glimpse of his thoughts in the midst of a trial. He was in the waves. And sinking with nothing to hold onto. He was crying. He was weary. His energy was gone. Ever cry so hard it hurts to cry and you can't see clearly? I have. According to Psalm 69, David has too.
I'm grateful God chose to include weak, weary cries in the Bible. I am so often weak. And weary. Reading these prayers gives me hope for several reasons. First, because in my own pride, I tend to want to fix problems. David in his humility cried. That's a lesson I pray I am slowly learning. But it gives me hope, also, because David clearly points us not to his problem, but rather, to his Hope. David, in his own strength has no more power than the statue in the picture. He can't even cry out without God's strength working in his life.
David is weary. But His Lord is not. His prayer does not fall on a deaf or limited God - NO! they come right to the ears of the all-powerful Creator God. And David has confidence in that power. In the right timing, God WILL deliver. David didn't pray "answer me God, because I'm coming in faith" or "answer me because I'm worth it." No, he rested his confidence not on his feelings or situation, rather on the unchanging character of his God. "answer me, because you are good... because you are full of abundant mercy."
That's why David was able to sing. Right there, in the midst of pain, struggling, parched voice from all the crying... He's singing. His eyes are tired from waiting... he is sinking in this overwhelming flood and He's singing! He's thanking God in the midst of weary pain. That thanksgiving, empowered by the Spirit, from a weak, parched disciple, pleases God and encourages His children. How amazing! Grace, given as a gift from God, working through weak, weary sinners, is used to encourage faith, magnify God's greatness and even please God himself!
God hears! God knows our needs and is more than competent and willing to show himself faithful. He will save - not only temporarily by providing relief at times, but by giving us a future hope... a future inheritance... a future with no more cries.