Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it, for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.

Psalm 141

Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head.
My head will not refuse it, for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers. v5

David is seeking the protection that we all need that only God can provide - protection from temptation, sin, and death.  See also my post from a few days ago.  Protection can come in many forms - including from our brothers and sisters in Christ, who we invite into our lives to provide accountability.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

God demanded from Noah that he keep "an accounting for the life of his fellow man".

"But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it. And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man.Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." Gen 9:4-6

We need others in lives in so many other ways: for confession and prayer, encouragement, etc.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love, compassion, patience, etc. for me even though I am not deserving of all of the love You pour out for me.  Thank You for providing men brothers and sisters in my life to help protect me.  Thank You Jesus.  I continue to be angry, impatient, harsh, etc. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength. Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

Psalm 141

May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. v2

We should strive to offer God our time, our gifts, our prayers, our worship...everything.  We are to "offer [our] bodies as a living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1). 

In Revelation, we also see our prayers offered to God as pleasing to Him:

Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. Revelation 5:8

We certainly have much about which we should praise and worship God.  

Another reminder that we exist solely to glorify God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love and compassion for me...even though I am not deserving. Thank You Jesus for being so patient with me and for welcoming me back in Your arms, even when I sin.  You bless me abundantly with life to the full - thank You Jesus.  Please forgive me for my anger.  Help me overcome and turn from my anger to You Jesus.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle.

Psalm 140

Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle. v7

We know that sin is everywhere and that it is more powerful than we are.  We need to be alert!

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

 

And as David writes in this Psalm, God is our deliverer from sin - He is the only one that can protect us from sin and temptation.  See Matthew 4 and Luke 4 where Jesus is tested by Satan and defeats Him by calling on scripture.  Jesus of course defeated the sting of sin and death by rising from the grave after His resurrection.  What a great God and deliverer we have!

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are my strong deliverer and my shield.  Thank You for being there to help me defeat sin and temptation.  I am not worth such efforts and love because I worry...and far too much.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength. Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. v23-24

We exist to glorify God - it is as simple as that. 

 

[The people] are the shoot I have planted,

the work of my hands,

for the display of my splendor.  Isiah 60: 21

 

If we exist to glorify God - if our mission is to glorify God, then we should have a vision to accomplish this, and we should seek God's guidance in prayer to ensure that our plan is aligned with His desires.  If we have a relationship with Jesus Christ and we have sought renewing of the mind by studying and knowing God's word, then we "will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2).

 

Although we might not welcome tests such as those experienced by Job, we should have no problem asking God to test us, to perfect us, to refine us.  After all, this process will be good for us, pleasing to God and it helps us further our mission which is to glorify Him.

  

God - test me, purify me, refine me.

My Prayer: Lord You are an awesome God full of love and compassion for me...even though I very often lack compassion for others.  Please forgive me!  Thank You for Your patience but I am not worthy.  Please forgive me.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. v16

As I posted Tuesday, God knows me far better than I know myself, and any plans I have for myself that are not aligned with Him are futile.  He also has a plan for me that is good.

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

This plan includes us serving at the mercy of God and for the glory of God.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.  Ephesians 1:1-12

 

My Prayer: Jesus, what an awesome God You are!  I know You have a plan for me to prosper, for hope, and a future...a great plan!  You have blessed me already well beyond what I deserve.  You keep all of Your promises!  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I continue to worry. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 139

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. v7-10

We often want to hide and flee from God - because our sin is something we know disappoints Him.  Yet not only does this further separate us from God but it is not possible!  

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20

You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you. Psalm 69:5 

 

"For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open." Luke 8:17

 

God is not only with us, seeing our sin, but He wants us to run back into His arms to seek forgiveness - as this is why He came for us.  See verse 9 and also the story of the Prodigal Son.

 

 My Prayer: What an awesome God You are Jesus that You welcome us back into Your arms time and time again...You are so full of compassion and love for us....for me.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I am not worth such love.  I worry too much and stress out too much.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength. Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.

Psalm 139

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. v1

God knows me far beyond how I know myself.  In this Psalm, David as well admits as much:

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. v6

We must be in awe and respect such knowledge and not be foolhardy to think that we know better than God what is good for us in our life. I have posted various times on the futile nature of human plans and the futility of our own plans.

Scripture that talks to this futility includes:

"For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” Acts 5:38-39

 

Those who trust in themselves are fools Proverbs 28:26

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

 

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God and You have directed my life and blessed me far beyond what I deserve.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessings. I am harsh with my words and actions, and I fail to be the man You intend for me in the house, the workplace, and elsewhere.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me overcome and turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.