"I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart." (Psalm 38:8)
43 years ago, this prayer became a prayer "theme" of my life-------- but so did our Lord Jesus Christ, in a way I had never known Him.
David had no concern that this prayer might get out, that people might know this great shepherd/warrior/king had weaknesses, had sin, even sicknesses. No wonder it is said of David, "he had God's heart." There is no "cover up" in Jesus Christ, and for those who follow Him. This is one of the reasons so many hated Jesus, especially those whose whole lives were intent on keeping their true selves from being exposed. Consider Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane, His words from the Cross, His, "Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour." When your heart cries out from the depths in deep longing, my friend, you are in very good company. I have said before that when I was a young person I had difficulty relating to many of the Psalms. Then as years went by, when death came to our family and sorrow overwhelmed me, the Psalms became my most treasured prayer book, Jesus, "Bread of Life," feeding and sustaining me.
When I was a teenager, there was a girl in our youth group who, after an older man in our church prayed, said, "I don't like it when he prays like that." He had confessed and bemoaned his own sin. She, however, was young, too unwilling to see any of that in her own life. Youth is like that, isn't it, "No faults in me, no situations I can't overcome." Today the popular approach to youth is to teach them they are so wonderful, special, can do "anything if you put your mind to it, reach the heights, unstoppable. I read of a 5'1", 101 lb. girl who worked nights at a gas station/convienient store. Her mother expressed great concern for her safety. She told her mother, "Don't worry; I can handle anybody." Not long after her bravado statement, the girl was abducted and murdered.
The "spiritual" among us never pray in the spirit of Psalm 38. Bravado is their theme also. Leaders have an image to protect, mentors and those who are admired by others must keep that spiritual-giant image. David had no such illusion. When he encountered his own weaknesses, his own sin, he owned it. Many of his recorded prayers are prayers which we can all pray at times in our lives. I see the suffering of humanity, the struggles of those whom I know, my own increasing frailty, and found myself praying Psalm 38 with an unusual earnestness today. There are so many more such "relevant" prayers in the Bible.
Father, in Jesus' Name, What can I pray, but that which You have given me to pray? Amen.
**********************
* A Must Read at: www.jerusalemberlinwashington,blogspot.com
* I am preaching in the CCE meeting this coming Sunday, May 12
* We now have 21 who will be with us for the North Korea Briefing on May 20
43 years ago, this prayer became a prayer "theme" of my life-------- but so did our Lord Jesus Christ, in a way I had never known Him.
David had no concern that this prayer might get out, that people might know this great shepherd/warrior/king had weaknesses, had sin, even sicknesses. No wonder it is said of David, "he had God's heart." There is no "cover up" in Jesus Christ, and for those who follow Him. This is one of the reasons so many hated Jesus, especially those whose whole lives were intent on keeping their true selves from being exposed. Consider Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane, His words from the Cross, His, "Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour." When your heart cries out from the depths in deep longing, my friend, you are in very good company. I have said before that when I was a young person I had difficulty relating to many of the Psalms. Then as years went by, when death came to our family and sorrow overwhelmed me, the Psalms became my most treasured prayer book, Jesus, "Bread of Life," feeding and sustaining me.
When I was a teenager, there was a girl in our youth group who, after an older man in our church prayed, said, "I don't like it when he prays like that." He had confessed and bemoaned his own sin. She, however, was young, too unwilling to see any of that in her own life. Youth is like that, isn't it, "No faults in me, no situations I can't overcome." Today the popular approach to youth is to teach them they are so wonderful, special, can do "anything if you put your mind to it, reach the heights, unstoppable. I read of a 5'1", 101 lb. girl who worked nights at a gas station/convienient store. Her mother expressed great concern for her safety. She told her mother, "Don't worry; I can handle anybody." Not long after her bravado statement, the girl was abducted and murdered.
The "spiritual" among us never pray in the spirit of Psalm 38. Bravado is their theme also. Leaders have an image to protect, mentors and those who are admired by others must keep that spiritual-giant image. David had no such illusion. When he encountered his own weaknesses, his own sin, he owned it. Many of his recorded prayers are prayers which we can all pray at times in our lives. I see the suffering of humanity, the struggles of those whom I know, my own increasing frailty, and found myself praying Psalm 38 with an unusual earnestness today. There are so many more such "relevant" prayers in the Bible.
Father, in Jesus' Name, What can I pray, but that which You have given me to pray? Amen.
**********************
* A Must Read at: www.jerusalemberlinwashington,blogspot.com
* I am preaching in the CCE meeting this coming Sunday, May 12
* We now have 21 who will be with us for the North Korea Briefing on May 20
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
