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
After going through rough waters of trouble with worry, fear and anxious thoughts we come to realize, even surprised by how much we are loved by God. He IS with us, not against us. He wants HIS best for us which is better than what we can imagine. He will fight for us when everything seems against us in this world. But we must let go and let God proceed to do His work and not get in the way. It is then that we see the Light at the end of a long dark tunnel. It is then that we are elated, full of joy and finally at peace. Joy floods our being with praises to the God who is, was and is to come. 
1-2 I love you, God—
16-19 But me he caught—reached all the way
31-42 Is there any god like God?
1-2 Listen while I build my case, God,
15 And me? I plan on looking
Evaluate and examine. How righteous is our cause? Is it what God wants? Are you trying to get YOUR way or God’s way? Are we doing what God asks us to do? If yes, then continue to do it with all that is in you. If no, then stop doing it.
1-2 Keep me safe, O God,
Short and sweet. At times we love it when the sermon gets right to the point and leaves us with the most important words to follow. David has done just that in our next prayer conversation with God. He asks God, what does it take to come to God’s table at His house and fellowship with God. 
2 “Walk straight,
1. Seek God’s Presence 
HEART CHECK:
As teachers, we give assignments to practice what we have just taught students to do. Some students expect it and are ready to comply. There are always a few who linger, loiter and work hard to find ways not to do the work it takes to learn well. 
Bilious and bloated, they gas,
HEART CHECK:
We had just returned from long trip of training a few churches. A couple of coworkers had gone with me to help with the training. We had a successful time with churches who were eager to learn and grow. There was a lot of talking and laughing but we were exhausted. After nine hours, we made it back to our office. I dropped off supplies and people at the office and then around 11pm headed for my 30 minute drive home. In all the busyness and fun, I failed to look at the gas guage. I just wanted to get home. The van wanted to be fed…in the middle of the darkness of night on US 224. 
5-6 I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms—
After reading the first two lines of our next Psalm-prayer, it apparently happens in the classroom of life, too. Evil has a one of worming into the hearts of those who have rejected the temptations for a time. But now those same hearts begin to rethink their faith (or don’t think at all) which results in behaviors that are not pleasing to God. We begin to rationalize sin more and more. We think a little lie, here and there, can’t hurt. Taking a few things from work is okay. Putting someone else down by consistently pointing out their faults behind their back so we can get ahead is what it takes to succeed, right? All lies. 
1-2 Quick, God, I need your helping hand!
6-8 God’s words are pure words,
You know just how much your parents love you when they move away while you are in college and leave no forwarding address! That joke was told by self-degrading comedian, Rodney Dangerfield, many years ago. We humans, when all seems against us, are great at finding fault with ourselves and then all the people around us when life goes wrong. We think God has moved and left no forwarding address when times get really tough and life is overwhelming.
SOMETHING TO CHEW…
HEART CHECK:
1-2 God, are you avoiding me?
7-8 They carry a mouthful of hexes,
15-16 Break the wicked right arms,
