Show me where to walk each day

Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die. 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. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life. Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress. In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies and destroy all my foes, for I am your servant. Psalm 143: 7-12 NLT

I think this is going to be my scripture for 2013:

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. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. (Verses 8-10)

The whole image of surrendering to God first thing in the morning is a powerful one for me. I really like the imagery of asking God to show me where to walk, where to put my steps. Asking God to teach me to do God’s will and lead me in firm footing is what I need. I think I had a tendency to do my own thing and follow my own guidance way too much in 2012!

Do you have a favorite Bible verse for the year? I would love to hear what it is!

God, 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. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Copyright 2013 Amelia G. Sims

Adore God

Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my plea! Answer me because you are faithful and righteous. Don’t put your servant on trial, for no one is innocent before you. My enemy has chased me. He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to lie in darkness like those in the grave. I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear. I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done. I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. Psalm 143: 1-6 NLT

The psalmist is in a dark place. He is appealing to God, but asking for God not to judge him as he knows that no one can be completely innocent before God. He lifts up what his enemy has done: knocked him to the ground, forcing him to lie in darkness. He is losing hope, paralyzed with fear. While he gropes in the dark, he remembers all that God has done -- in the greater world as well as the psalmist’s own life. He lifts his hands to God in prayer and admits his thirst for God. 

I love how, even though he is at his wit’s end, the psalmist puts adoration of God first. He praises God and God’s mighty works. He somehow realizes in his own predicament what is truly important: God. That takes quite a bit of maturity. 

I tend to get in lost in my own pity parties sometimes and forget God’s bigger picture. Yet the psalmist is able to overcome his own fears and praise God. Oh, that I would have such faithful maturity!

God, when I am in a dark place and need you, help me to give you praise and adoration. Take away my self-centeredness and lift you up in blessing and praise. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Copyright 2013 Amelia G. Sims