#430 - Psalm 6
LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint; heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in deep anguish. How long, LORD, how long? Turn, LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. Among the dead no one proclaims your name. Who praises you from the grave? I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes. Away from me, all you who do evil, for the LORD has heard my weeping. The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer. All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish; they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.
Psalm 6
ADORE
"...save me because of your unfailing love." I am so thankful for the unfailing love that you have displayed to me over the course of my life. For being born into a family with two parents who loved you. For introducing me to the local church where I could experience your love at a very young age. For gracing me with the desire to respond to your love. For bringing me back to your love even when I had decided it wasn't a priority in my life. For making me aware of the depths of your love by understanding the various facets of the gospel. For giving me the opportunity to now extend this love as a pastor. Thank you. Without your unfailing love, I would not know what true love is.
ADMIT
"How long, LORD, how long?" I confess that there are many days when I grow impatient with you. I grow impatient with the progress I am seeing in my character development. I grow impatient with the progress I am making as a husband. I grow impatient with the progress we are making as a church. I grow impatient with the progress I am seeing in others' lives. Forgive me for the days when I believe the lie that you have forgotten about me and the purposes you have for my life. Very rarely does my timeline line up with yours, and for that, I repent. Your timing is perfect. You don't need to hurry. I need to wait.
ASPIRE
"All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish; they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame." I look forward to the day when all of my enemies, but more importantly, all of your enemies are defeated. The naysayers. The haters. The doubters. Like David, I have faith that all those who have tried to bring shame to your name will be ashamed. All of those who would defy you and your love - I pray that there will come a day when they realize the foolishness of their ways. I pray all of this in Jesus name, Amen.