How the Spiritually Awake Pray - Part I

Praying the Psalms Series Part 13

“TO THE“A PSALM OF DAVID O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! 2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! 3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! 4 Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies! 5 Let a righteous man strike me- it is a kindness; let him rebuke me- it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds. 6 When their judges are thrown over the cliff, then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant. 7 As when one plows and breaks up the earth, so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol. 8 But my eyes are toward you, O GOD, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless! 9 Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me and from the snares of evildoers! 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely.”

Psalm 141:1-10

Where Can I Go From You God?

Praying the Psalms Series Part 12

“TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A PSALM OF DAVID. O LORD, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. 7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night” 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. 13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. 19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! 20 They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain! 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? 22 I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 1 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

Psalm 139: 1-24

Learning How to Lament & Hope - Part 2

Praying the Psalms Series Part 11

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.  2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?  3 My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"  4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation  6 and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.  8 By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.  9 I say to God, my rock: "Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?"  10 As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me continually, "Where is your God?"  11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.  43:1 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me!  2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?  3 Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!  4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.  5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”

- Psalms 42 & 43

Learning How to Lament & Hope - Part I

Praying the Psalms Series Part 10

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.  2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?  3 My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"  4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation  6 and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.  8 By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.  9 I say to God, my rock: "Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?"  10 As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me continually, "Where is your God?"  11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.  43:1 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me!  2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?  3 Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!  4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.  5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”

- Psalms 42 & 43