“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14
I started thinking about this subject of ‘prayer’ several weeks ago after my daughter Deidre asked if I would go through a five-day session called “Bible praying through Psalm 19” with the Bible app on my phone. Five days went by quickly but a lot of seeds were planted and the Holy Spirit has been at work, watering and waiting for them to grow. The above verse has become my go to prayer before I begin to put together a message each day. Ron, this verse could be a great starter for you too, but before you push in the clutch, move the gear shifter and get ready to hit gas, please consider this verse before you open the garage door.
My prayers have been really good about thanking and asking but are usually short on waiting. And to add more guilt to my Lutheran plate these three words sometimes come out of my mouth in my reply to HIS answer; “Are You Sure?” You would think that as I look down and see Job and TAP, I wouldn’t be asking God to rethink His reply. He is in charge and has been taking care of me while the devil keeps filling my plate with eggplant, squash, turnips and some really big challenges. Me and the two stumps have certainly had a few quiet pity parties in the solitude of my room here at the Facility. The Lord is there with me and nudges me to turn on the PC and look at some photos from Haiti. “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
From what I saw when I was living in Haiti, I’m fairly certain that the greater share of those kids in the photos and their parents in rural Haiti, are still sleeping on a mat on a dirt floor in their home; no indoor plumbing or electricity. Me and the stumps got nothing to complain about. And as Pastor Luke used to say; “and now we pray”. Don’t ever ignore praying before the next challenge. Doesn’t matter how big or small that next hurdle may be, start with a prayer; silent or out loud…HE hears them.
Remember Who you are talking too; He is God and you are the weasel with the nickname ‘humble pie’. Approach the Lord with genuine humility and purity of heart. HE is listening. HE wants to hear from you.
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay