Psalms – Prayers of Honesty
I am on a 90 day challenge to finish strong in the last days of 2018. One of the “5 to thrive” activities that is done each day is to list ten things that you are grateful for and bless you. That is the easiest one for me. I love watching the sun rise and set because I know Who made it happen and I am grateful. I know that I am redeemed and I am grateful. The unspoken truth of my whole being is a result of God. God is Truth…whether you choose to believe it or not, His Truth still is. Truth is God, unchanging and stands in witness and glory back to God and to the world He created.
David says it best in his prayer of praise to God’s glory. As you read, jot down all the ways God is revealed in our world, in our hearts, minds and souls and how Truth, God Word is worth more than diamonds or anything else man decides is of value on this earth. Let’s see if you found God’s “gems” of Truth as I did…
Psalm 19, The Message
A David Psalm
1-2 God’s glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.
Madame Day holds classes every morning,
Professor Night lectures each evening.
3-4 Their words aren’t heard,
their voices aren’t recorded,
But their silence fills the earth:
unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.
4-5 God makes a huge dome
for the sun—a superdome!
The morning sun’s a new husband
leaping from his honeymoon bed,
The daybreaking sun an athlete
racing to the tape.
6 That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies
from sunrise to sunset,
Melting ice, scorching deserts,
warming hearts to faith.
7-9 The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
and easy on the eyes.
God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate
down to the nth degree.
10 God’s Word is better than a diamond,
better than a diamond set between emeralds.
You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring,
better than red, ripe strawberries.
11-14 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger
and directs us to hidden treasure.
Otherwise how will we find our way?
Or know when we play the fool?
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
Keep me from stupid sins,
from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed,
scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
These are the words in my mouth;
these are what I chew on and pray.
Accept them when I place them
on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock,
God, Priest-of-My-Altar.
SOMETHING TO CHEW…
Look closely at verses 7-9. See the words about God that describes Him and His Truth to us:
1. God is WHOLE and pulls our lives together. No one else needed and No one else can do this like God.
2. God is CLEAR in giving directions to the right road to take.
3. God is RIGHT…showing us the way to His joy unspeakable and full of glory!
4. God is PLAIN and simple in His directions to us.
5. God is GOLD…with a lifetime guarantee! Don’t you love that?
6. God is ACCURATE. His best decision for us is always spot on. There is no one like our God! And He delights in all the details of our lives so we can ask Him anything!
God’s Truth is better than diamonds, more valuable than emeralds, tastier than strawberries in spring…and that’s not all! God’s Truth warns us of danger and directs us to His hidden treasures.
HEART CHECK:
David closes this prayer of praise with a unique request. Could David’s words be our prayer as we begin our day? Why, yes, it most certainly can. That’s why and how we “pray the psalms”!
Dear Heavenly Father,
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
Keep me from stupid sins,
from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed,
scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
These are the words in my mouth;
these are what I chew on and pray.
Accept them when I place them
on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock,
God, Priest-of-My-Altar.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 