12/13/11 SHOW ME THE WAY I SHOULD GO
12/13/11 SHOW ME THE WAY I SHOULD GO
Psalm 143:1-12 Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Key Verse: 143:8b Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF
“….Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.”
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for intervening in such a wonderful way in the midst of my dilemma. You sent one of your own people to give me wise words of counsel. It was definitely your hand that directed me in bringing me release of heart. Lord, I pray that you may guide Pastor Abraham, as he goes to various conferences. I pray that you grant him your word and your spirit when he ministers to the missionaries world wide. Please make this Christmas the most joyful time of year. Help us to celebrate and worship Jesus and help others to do the same. Please send 12 people through our NIU ministry. Please plant your word in my heart today. Give me strength to continue working as a nurse. I thank you and I pray in Jesus name. Amen!
1. My soul thirsts for you (1-6).
Verses 1-6, “LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. 2 Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you. 3 The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead. 4 So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed. 5 I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. 6 I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land. “
David asked for God’s mercy based on God’s faithfulness and righteousness. His enemies pursued him, crushed him, and made him miserable. His spirit fainted and his heart was dismayed. Yet David remembered God and meditated on what God had done. He thirsted for God like parched land. Like David, we also must make the best use of our distressed situation to go to God and to be closer to him.
The trouble and strife of this world really pursues me and dogs me and tries to drive me to the ground. This world wants me to retreat in misery and curl up in the fetal position in some quiet corner. The world pushes me to walk in the darkness of sin to just get some momentary relief in some dysfunctional way. But I thank God who hears my cries for mercy. I thank God for hearing me and showing me where to turn. I could turn to Jesus and meditate on Jesus’ words. If I could not turn to Jesus all I could do is endlessly watch the news, odd news videos, cute little animal videos, go on quiet walks and be all alone. But Jesus helps me to come to him, meditate on his grace and truth and reach out to others in the name of Jesus. I can share my heart with God and with other believers and receive support and prayer. The world wants to crush me, but Jesus wants to buttress me and build me up. He wants me to build up relationships and network in doing the work of God. Thank you Jesus for hearing my cry and rescuing me and giving me strength to continue in the good and right path.
2. Teach me to do your will (7-12).
Verses 7-12, “Answer me quickly, LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. 8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. 9 Rescue me from my enemies, LORD, for I hide myself in you. 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. 11 For your name’s sake, LORD, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble. 12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant”
In times of dismay, David prayed and waited for God’s answer. He yearned to hear the word of God’s unfailing love every morning. He asked God where to go and what to do. When we don’t know what to do, we should ask like David, “Show me the way I should go” (8). God will surely show us his way and teach us how to do his will. He will surely rescue us and preserve our life for his name’s sake.
When I have trouble with my relationships with others, I don’t now the way that I should go. But Jesus shows me the way that I must go. In a general sense I must always take the way of humility and repentance and faith. I must always be humble and listen and decide to grow. Saying, “I am sorry.” is a good start. Defending myself and becoming obstinate is not the way. I must always seek the will of God in each and every situation, then God will lead me along the right path. He will lead me to victory. I thank God that I can trust in Jesus. There is not many people whom I can trust. But I can trust God and the word of God and the ways of God. Lord, help me to show the young people of America the way that they can go, to show them the Jesus the one they can trust to teach and to guide.
Prayer: O Lord, your unfailing love preserves me always. I will go to you in times of dismay and ask you to show me the way.
One Word: I can trust God to keep me on level ground.
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