DATE POSTED: Wednesday, 2023-03-08
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

BY: Ed Algreen

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 143:6-8
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 6 I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. Interlude  7 Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die.  8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.

OBSERVATION: Although David’s issue may have been different to what any of my readers or listeners might face today, yet David served the same God that we do today, and He knew where to turn to when things were beyond his control. In his prayer, or conversation with God, we can be reminded of some key elements that we need each day to help us make it through. So, take a few moments to meditate on the Word of God with me, as we seek His face and His favor.

APPLICATION: When we are hurting in our bodies and our health seems questionable, we turn to our Primary Care Physician, or our family doctor. However, there are days that we just need a friend to talk to, with hopes of lifting our spirits and gaining more hope about the challenges we expect to face that day. Some turn to the daily horoscope, some to palm readers and some confide in friends or family who may have faced similar challenges in the past. But David had a proven track record with the Master – the Lord God Almighty, so I believe this was his first stop for help. In today’s world of social media, we read where some will demand certain actions of God, for they feel empowered to do this from certain Scriptures that they have interpreted a little differently to most of us. Personally, I tend to follow in similar footsteps to what David did. I believe David had such respect for God, that he probably bowed before Him in deep respect, or he may have even laid prostrate before a holy, righteous and upright God. David didn’t ‘beat around the bush’, as we sometimes tend to do. He openly acknowledged that it was not just happenchance that he chose to approach the throne of God, but he chose to approach God from a very desperate point in his life. He used a neat description to help explain how desperately he needed God and his help. So, he went before God in prayer with lifted hands – declaring honor and praise to the King of all kings. When our land is parched from lack of rain, the ground cracks open ready to receive the blessing of rain when God determines the time is right. That’s how David felt in his need for God to rescue him in his desperation. That reminds me of mankind when we’ve tried every possible solution, then we finally turn to God in one final, desperate attempt to find answers. Notice that David was no different to us, in that this heavy burden was having an impact on his mental condition, for he was depressed, and he could even feel it worsening. However, our main lesson comes in verse 8, for David must have felt like something had come between he and God, for he asked that God fill him and place him on a right track each and every morning. Earlier I alluded to the fact that we tend to turn to God when all personal efforts have failed. What if we face each day with a prerequisite: I will make it a priority to seek the face of God – the One who created this day for me, and after much praise and honor to Him, I will open His Word to seek His will for me this day, and to ask Him to be my guide and help in every circumstance that comes my way today. Do you suppose that God will hear our prayer, see us turn from our wicked and selfish ways, and He will direct our paths towards opportunities that will promote the kingdom of God and remind every contact that Jesus is alive and well, because of the evidence they see in you and me? It worked for David, my friend, and I am convinced that it will work for you and me, because our God is still the same today as He was yesterday. I believe He anxiously awaits hearing from us each morning, so that He could bless us and send us on our way to be a blessing. Let’s not disappoint Him.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: I am trusting you, Lord. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for another day. I know You created this day, and You created me and all those I will make contact with today. I believe that You have a divine appointment for me today, so I place myself at Your disposal. Please clean me up really good. Forgive me of my sin and make me whole again and a usable vessel through which You could complete Your work. Please place me in the right situations today where you can accomplish Your work through me. Please help me approach today’s challenges in the right way and through Your help, may I have the right words and actions to show someone my Master. Please touch the lives of each reader and/or listener and help them see You in some form today so that they might be reenergized to display Your works and honor Your will for their lives. Please speak to the hearts of the unsaved again today. Help them see You in real and meaningful ways so they will surrender themselves to You. AMEN!