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God, I think I finally found that song for my heart I was looking for a few months back... Thank you for Your Word.
Psalm VI
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O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger,
nor discipline me in your wrath.
Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing;
heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled.
My soul also is greatly troubled.
But you, O LORD -- how long?
Turn, O LORD, deliver my life;
save me for the sake of your steadfast love.
For in death there is no remembrance of you;
in Sheol who will give you praise?
I am weary with my moaning;
every night I flood my bed with tears;
I drench my couch with my weeping.
My eye wastes away because of grief;
it grows weak because of all my foes.
Depart from me, all you workers for evil,
for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
The LORD has heard my plea;
the LORD accepts my prayer.
All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;
they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Day Three
Guilt is an overpowering emotion. It eats away at you inside. It's like a continual dark cloud over your soul, or like knowing that you're going to be robbed, your house is going to burn down, or you're going to die and not having the power to do anything to change it. An awful feeling. No wonder some people are driven mad by it.
God, I'm guilty. You already knew that. Please forgive me for my negligence--again. Math isn't my strong suit. I hate it. But that's no excuse. God, not only have I disgraced you, but I've hurt my parents as well. PLEASE CHANGE ME. Work in me a new heart that longs to bring glory and honor to you. God, FORGIVE ME.
And let me forgive myself. Help me understand that you have cleansed me from my transgressions. That although I sin, You have paid the penalty for my iniquities. THAT YOUR FORGIVENESS IS ENOUGH. More than enough. complete. Keep me from reverting to works to "appease" you--and myself.
FORGIVE ME.
I don't feel like reading today; please help me.
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Psalms II & VI
God, I'm guilty. You already knew that. Please forgive me for my negligence--again. Math isn't my strong suit. I hate it. But that's no excuse. God, not only have I disgraced you, but I've hurt my parents as well. PLEASE CHANGE ME. Work in me a new heart that longs to bring glory and honor to you. God, FORGIVE ME.
And let me forgive myself. Help me understand that you have cleansed me from my transgressions. That although I sin, You have paid the penalty for my iniquities. THAT YOUR FORGIVENESS IS ENOUGH. More than enough. complete. Keep me from reverting to works to "appease" you--and myself.
FORGIVE ME.
I don't feel like reading today; please help me.
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Psalms II & VI
Monday, January 5, 2009
Day Two -- Devotions
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Genesis III & IV
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I wonder that I never realized before how much Adam and Eve must have gone through. To be made perfect and placed in paradise, then through their own actions to fall from grace to sin and be driven from the only home they knew must have been terrible. And I can't imagine the guilt they must have borne. To know it was your sin that cursed the entire human race must have been unbearable at times. But God's grace sustained them; it's the only thing that could.
Romans II
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vs. 12-16
"For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when the Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though the do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus."
Genesis III & IV
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I wonder that I never realized before how much Adam and Eve must have gone through. To be made perfect and placed in paradise, then through their own actions to fall from grace to sin and be driven from the only home they knew must have been terrible. And I can't imagine the guilt they must have borne. To know it was your sin that cursed the entire human race must have been unbearable at times. But God's grace sustained them; it's the only thing that could.
Romans II
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vs. 12-16
"For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when the Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though the do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus."
Day Two
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Pain.
It's something we all complain about. My heart aches, my throat's sore, my ear is frightfully uncomfortable. And yet, somehow, You use Pain to Your own purposes, namely, Good. Without pain or discomfort, we would never know something was wrong with us.
Our arrogance often clouds our reasoning. We forget that we are but dust. Or at least, we try to pretend that we're not. Foolish man! How can you love us?
Thank you, Father, for Your grace and mercy. Thank you that the swelling has gone down in my ear, and that the other one seems clearer and less likely to turn as painful.
God, give me wisdom concerning Jonathan--both of them. You know how much Jon means to me and how hard it is for me to be patient with just a friendship, even though that is no doubt the best avenue for us right now. I NEED DIVINE INTERVENTION. And please be with JR. Show him that pursuing you would be much better than pursuing me. I'd rather not have to tell him that myself, but if I must, please give me the courage and grace to do so.
Please grant me the grace to make it through the day; let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
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Genesis III & IV, Psalm V, Romans II
Pain.
It's something we all complain about. My heart aches, my throat's sore, my ear is frightfully uncomfortable. And yet, somehow, You use Pain to Your own purposes, namely, Good. Without pain or discomfort, we would never know something was wrong with us.
Our arrogance often clouds our reasoning. We forget that we are but dust. Or at least, we try to pretend that we're not. Foolish man! How can you love us?
Thank you, Father, for Your grace and mercy. Thank you that the swelling has gone down in my ear, and that the other one seems clearer and less likely to turn as painful.
God, give me wisdom concerning Jonathan--both of them. You know how much Jon means to me and how hard it is for me to be patient with just a friendship, even though that is no doubt the best avenue for us right now. I NEED DIVINE INTERVENTION. And please be with JR. Show him that pursuing you would be much better than pursuing me. I'd rather not have to tell him that myself, but if I must, please give me the courage and grace to do so.
Please grant me the grace to make it through the day; let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
--------------
Genesis III & IV, Psalm V, Romans II
Friday, January 2, 2009
Day One -- Devotions
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Gen. I-II, Romans I
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Paradise--that's what You created. A place of beauty, wonder, and peace. No conflict, not even between the animals. It was astounding It was perfection itself. It was good.
I wonder how I never really noticed that before. I guess I didn't read very carefully. This place was the most glorious place in the world, better than San Diego and Charleston put together.
And how did I miss the part in chpt. 2 vs. 9: "And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food..." Made to spring up? Incredible! It would be like watching an ancient oak grow from beginning to present at fast speed. How mighty is my God!
It's funny how this seems to tie into part of the Romans passage I was reading.
chpt. 1 vs. 18-20
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, why by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Wow. That last sentence is kinda scary.
All are without excuse.
Gen. I-II, Romans I
----
Paradise--that's what You created. A place of beauty, wonder, and peace. No conflict, not even between the animals. It was astounding It was perfection itself. It was good.
I wonder how I never really noticed that before. I guess I didn't read very carefully. This place was the most glorious place in the world, better than San Diego and Charleston put together.
And how did I miss the part in chpt. 2 vs. 9: "And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food..." Made to spring up? Incredible! It would be like watching an ancient oak grow from beginning to present at fast speed. How mighty is my God!
It's funny how this seems to tie into part of the Romans passage I was reading.
chpt. 1 vs. 18-20
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, why by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Wow. That last sentence is kinda scary.
All are without excuse.
Day One
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Father God, You know the desires of my heart. You know my every thought, You hear my every word. You know how stubborn and proud I am. You know my selfishness and thoughtlessness.
You see my sin.
You hate my sin.
Your wrath burns against my wrongdoings.
And yet you love me.
You sent Your Son to die, not only for me, but for countless others who are just like me: wicked.
You saved me. You love me.
How can you stand to see me continually fall back? What pain I must cause you! With my arrogant presumption that I can somehow live without Your Word, without You, I rebel against my God. Why haven't you smote me off the face of this earth?
Justice calls for it, nay, demands it.
My life is forfeit.
Nothing I can do can save me.
But Your infinite, mysterious mercy intercedes on my behalf.
O Lord, how wondrous are your ways! You know my frame; You know I am but dust.
That's no excuse for sin, of course; just a statement of fact.
I am full of sin; brimming over with it, in fact. I sin with every hour of every day. I am dust; my nature is fallen and depraved.
But Mercy intervenes.
By your mercy, my heart can begin to change.
Please open my eyes as I study Your Word, God. Grant me wisdom and understanding.
Amen.
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Genesis chpts. I & II, Psalm I, and Romans I
Father God, You know the desires of my heart. You know my every thought, You hear my every word. You know how stubborn and proud I am. You know my selfishness and thoughtlessness.
You see my sin.
You hate my sin.
Your wrath burns against my wrongdoings.
And yet you love me.
You sent Your Son to die, not only for me, but for countless others who are just like me: wicked.
You saved me. You love me.
How can you stand to see me continually fall back? What pain I must cause you! With my arrogant presumption that I can somehow live without Your Word, without You, I rebel against my God. Why haven't you smote me off the face of this earth?
Justice calls for it, nay, demands it.
My life is forfeit.
Nothing I can do can save me.
But Your infinite, mysterious mercy intercedes on my behalf.
O Lord, how wondrous are your ways! You know my frame; You know I am but dust.
That's no excuse for sin, of course; just a statement of fact.
I am full of sin; brimming over with it, in fact. I sin with every hour of every day. I am dust; my nature is fallen and depraved.
But Mercy intervenes.
By your mercy, my heart can begin to change.
Please open my eyes as I study Your Word, God. Grant me wisdom and understanding.
Amen.
---------------
Genesis chpts. I & II, Psalm I, and Romans I
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