March 21, 2019
Psalm 63:1-8 New Living Translation (NLT)
Today is the fourteenth day of our 40-Day Lenten Series, “Praying for a Kingdom Heart.” Lent should be a time of prayerful reflection, repentance, and restoration as we draw closer to the heart of God. During my reflection time today, I am very aware the fallen world and its rebellion against the authority of God actually seeks to drain me and leave me “feeling” frustrated and fearful; while God’s Spirit encourages, sustains, and fills me with faith and hope by “knowing” I have a bright future. With one fleeting thought I can “feel” all kinds of emotions that do not rest on God’s love or sovereignty. Do you sometimes feel weakened by your own thoughts and feelings due to the issues that flow from a sinful world? In Christ, I am peaceful, sustained, and satisfied; the Lord is my happy place! There is such a contrast for me between the world and God’s Kingdom when it comes to “knowing” I am secure, safe, and satisfied. The Refiner is helping me gain spiritual fitness, so he can sustain me, but I need to pay attention. Do you reach for the Sustainer to make you feel secure and safe, as well as look for his presence to satisfy your soul when the spirit of the world vies for your attention?
Life in the world can “feel” threatening. Fear is certainly trying all the time to find a home in our thoughts so it can be worked out through our lives. All fear does is drain us by repetition; it keeps coming around and around in our thoughts for us to consider or entertain. Fear wants to be planted so it can grow. We do not need to give into fear’s process. The Word teaches, “Humble yourself before God, resist the enemy (fear), and he will flee” (James 4:7). If we are willing to praise and humble ourselves before God, as our Sustainer, he will open our spiritual eyes to see the reality of his glory and power over all things. Our thoughts can suddenly be refocused on Truth, so like David parched and feeling insecure in the wilderness, we can begin to praise our God who is the true Sustainer of Life and the Lover of our Souls who will never fail us. If we were never left spiritually thirsty by the world, would we ever drink from the life of God? Your thirst is your Friend!
During Lent, we will be using the acronym P.R.A.Y. as we pray for a Kingdom Heart. P=praise, R=repent, A=ask, and Y=yield. May God bless you as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today.
Psalm 63:1-8 A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah.
1
O God, you are my God;
I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
where there is no water.
2
I have seen you in your sanctuary
and gazed upon your power and glory.
3
Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
how I praise you!
4
I will praise you as long as I live,
lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
5
You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
I will praise you with songs of joy.
6
I lie awake thinking of you,
meditating on you through the night.
7
Because you are my helper,
I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
8
I cling to you;
your strong right hand holds me securely.
Prayer: Lord, like David, I praise you for satisfying me with your eternal life. I repent for sometimes being slow to turn my attention away from the world in order to refocus on your great power over all things. I ask for your forgiveness. Holy Spirit, help me pray for your sustaining power when I am faced with fear. I yield to your Kingdom thoughts. In Jesus’ name. Amen.