Psalms – Prayers of Honesty
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. After a brief panic, I prayed, Lord, I know this is my fault but please rescue me. Help me to figure this out. This was in the days before cell phones. I looked up and saw the only light ahead. There was an auction house about a half mile up the road. Cars and trucks were pulling away with their treasures. This was my only hope. I lunged from the van and made a run for it, my tired body pumping with new adrenalin. I made it just in time before the owners turned out the lights! I told them my trouble and asked to use the phone. I called my husband who raced to my rescue with fuel to get me home.
What a relief and joy to see him coming down the road. I never felt alone because I knew God was with me. God rescued me through the efforts of strangers and my husband. This is one of numerous times that God rescued me. Uneasiness turns to complete joy when we are rescued. Nothing else matters in the moment of rescue.
Psalm 13, The Message
A David Psalm
1-2 Long enough, God—
you’ve ignored me long enough.
I’ve looked at the back of your head
long enough. Long enough
I’ve carried this ton of trouble,
lived with a stomach full of pain.
Long enough my arrogant enemies
have looked down their noses at me.
3-4 Take a good look at me, God, my God;
I want to look life in the eye,
So no enemy can get the best of me
or laugh when I fall on my face.
5-6 I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms— I’m celebrating your rescue.
I’m singing at the top of my lungs,
I’m so full of answered prayers.
SOMETHING TO CHEW…
“I’m celebrating your rescue. I’m singing at the top of my lungs, I’m so full of answered prayers.” Yes, David we truly get it. We celebrate with you.
I bet you have a story of rescue, too. Tell someone. I bet they have one, too. Then celebrate our Rescuer with praises and psalms…along with a little happy dancing.
HEART CHECK:
Think of a time when God rescued you. Did you celebrate God? How did you thank Him? Have you thanked Him lately?
What if we lived a life of celebrating God in such a way that made people wonder about the smile on our faces?
We are not only rescued…we are redeemed!
Dear Heavenly Father,
You have rescued us so many times in our lives. We celebrate You this morning as our Rescuer, Savior and Lord of Life. Many times you rescued me before I even knew I needed it…like this time in the dark when I ran out of gas. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being with us, looking over us and guiding us through it all. I love you, Lord with all my heart. I celebrate You this morning as I remember all you have done, are doing and will do in my life.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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,
Sometimes I sing my prayers to God while doing chores around the house. As I go to sleep knowing God is with me, He is my song in the night. When I wake up, another salvation song fills my mind. So, I understand David’s hallelujahs of honest praise and prayer to God. Music soothes the soul and reminds us how much we are loved. 
1-2 I’m thanking you, God, from a full heart,
SOMETHING TO CHEW…
And I’m singing…
I look around my back yard and I thank God for the way He delicately and intricately made everything–absolutely everything. I praise God for His power and might and His right to judge coupled with tender mercy and grace, like no one on earth can do. I thank God, again, for saving my soul. I thank Him for a forever future with Him. 
5-8 Yet we’ve so narrowly missed being gods,
In praying, we get to know God more. It’s like our conversations with our best friend on earth. We know we can be honest with a friend who listens without responding to us immediately with an answer. God truly listens and waits for us to “talk it out” with Him until WE see His right way to go. We see that David does that readily. David is a “man after God’s heart” as he is described by God in scriptures, so David is comfortable with being honest before God. 
HEART PROBE…
As a pastor in God’s church, we can feel overwhelmed when the demands of His people do not match the commands that God is telling us to be and do. We fall down when we are overwhelmed and make bad choices just to make people happy. Making others happy, avoiding God’s direction, so you will be lifted up in the eyes of those you minister alongside, face to face, is sin and will bite back. God will take us to the “woodshed” when we take the easy road and say what others want to hear instead of saying what God wants. We will suffer now and later for playing the “must please others” game. Even the fickle ones we are trying to please will eventually turn on us! Crazy, right? But true.
A David Psalm
SOMETHING TO CHEW…
HEART CHECK…
We get discouraged in this world as we work alongside others who seek self promotion and glory. We wonder why they get ahead even though they lie and cheat to get the coveted position. Their favorite phrase is “fake it ’til you make it”. Their actions behind the scenes are despicable and hurt people who get in their way. 
SOMETHING TO CHEW…
Rest assured…
David asks a great question of all of us on this earth today, “Why is everyone hungry for MORE?” “More, more,” they say. More in the bank account. More family. More houses. More vehicles. More things to enjoy. More time to enjoy it. We always want a little bit more.
SOMETHING TO CHEW…
