#429 - Psalm 5:7-12
But I, by your great love, can come into your house; in reverence I bow down toward your temple. Lead me, LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies - make your way straight before me. Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies. Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you. But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
Psalm 5:7-12
ADORE
"But I, by your great love, can come into your house; in reverence I bow down toward your temple." I praise and thank you for your great love for me. I thank you for choosing, by your sovereign grace, to open up my eyes to a need for a Savior. I thank you for revealing Jesus Christ as my Savior. I thank you for choosing me to choose you so that I could be adopted into the family of God and be transformed from a slave to my sin to a son of a King! I thank you for placing me into the global family of God, but I also thank you for placing me into a local body of believers, theMOVEMENT, who I can walk and worship with. I thank you for the "house" that I am a part of and have even been given the opportunity to lead! I am so thankful and in awe of your love for me!
ADMIT
"Let their intrigues be their downfall!" I confess that I have had intrigues that have not been pleasing and glorifying to you. I have had desires for wealth, success, prominence, and prestige that have been completely selfish and self-glorifying. Please forgive me for my self-satisfying intrigues. Forgive me for being more intrigued by things that would satisfy me than by things that would glorify you. Forgive me for being drawn to and enticed by the desires of the flesh rather than the leading of the Holy Spirit. I confess and am aware that many of the most disappointing and difficult times of my life have come as a result of ungodly pursuits and desires.
ASPIRE
"Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you." Heavenly Father, please protect me. From sin, temptation, and folly - protect me. From gossip, hatred, and arrogance - protect me. From greed, pride, and selfishness - protect me. I desire to celebrate, at least, 50 years of marriage to my wife Rebekah. I desire to serve faithfully, at least, 30 years in vocational ministry. I look forward to the day when I will finish well. But, I know that I cannot do that without your protection. Spread your protection over me. I ask all this in Jesus name, Amen.