Sunday 7 June, 2015

in /by

Psalm 143

1 Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. 2 Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you. 3 The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead. 4 So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed. 5 I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. 6 I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land.[a] 7 Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. 8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. 9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you. 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. 11 For your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble. 12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.

If you have ever felt anxiety or depression, it seems as though you are in good company as King David reveals his anxiety and depression before the Lord!

The following things strike me in this psalm as great examples when we face an onslaught of concerns and negative feelings:

  1. Reveal them to God in brutal honesty and clarity.
  2. Continue to read the scriptures and turn to God in prayer every morning, even though I don’t feel like it
  3. Think of the blessings God has given me and give thanks and praise.
  4. Declare the truth of who God is and his promises
  5. Demand that God deliver on his promises.
  6. Patiently repeat, day by day.

“Lord, you do break through, when circumstances and dark clouds seem to envelop us. You are greater. Why we must wait some times, I don’t know. But you do break through and bring your abundance of life! Amen”

Written by Andrew Mellor

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