Pierced.
Tonight, I was praying for a friend, and chatting with another couple friends over Skype, but my thoughts drifted to a song. A song that I have been praying through all day, since I first was prompted to pour myself into praying for this friend. God has kept my thoughts on these lyrics all day long. So I first want to share that with you. Please take the 5 minutes and listen to it, and let the Spirit speak to you through it.
After I listened to this song (again), and prayed some more, I opened my Bible. I've been reading in Jeremiah, and was looking forward to finishing chapter two tonight. Oh how God had something better to show me. Instead, I heard Him say, "Read a psalm." So I absentmindedly turned to the psalms. Note: I've been using a new journaling Bible for some time now, yet obviously the vast majority of the pages are nice and white and empty, waiting for new thoughts in this new season. So, there wasn't anything to stop me (like bright highlights or all caps notes) as my eyes fell upon Psalm 40. God knew what he was doing, and man. This psalm hits me exactly where I am at this very moment. It pierces my heart and shifts my perspective as I walk through a crazy time in life.
So, for this post, I'm just going to invite you to read the following verses with me and see how God is speaking to you through it. I want the word to speak for itself. And (keep me accountable for this, please), over the next few posts, I'm going to go through this a couple of verses at a time, and share with you what He has been speaking to me over the last few months, with this psalm as a guide through it all. Again, I ask you to keep me accountable for this.
Psalm 40:
I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.
Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after a lie!
You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are more than can be told.
In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
but you have given me an open ear.
Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.
Then I said, "Behold, I have come,
in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
I delight to do your will O my God;
your law is within my heart."
I have told the glad news of deliverance
in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips,
as you know, O Lord.
I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and salvation;
I have not concealed you steadfast love
and your faithfulness from the great congregation.
As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain
your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!
For evils have encompassed me beyond number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
and I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head;
my heart fails me.
Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!
O Lord, make haste to help me!
Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
who delight in my hurt!
Let those be appalled because of their shame
who say to me, "Aha, Aha!"
But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation say continually,
"Great is the Lord!"
As for me, I am poor and needy,
but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer,
do not delay, O my God!
Shoo. Hope you made it through that with the Spirit speaking to you as He spoke to me! Can't wait to dive into this with you. Praise God for the precious gift of the Word, sharper than any double edged sword, piercing through all the facades and walls around our hearts, prompting us to die to ourselves that Love may overtake us.
After I listened to this song (again), and prayed some more, I opened my Bible. I've been reading in Jeremiah, and was looking forward to finishing chapter two tonight. Oh how God had something better to show me. Instead, I heard Him say, "Read a psalm." So I absentmindedly turned to the psalms. Note: I've been using a new journaling Bible for some time now, yet obviously the vast majority of the pages are nice and white and empty, waiting for new thoughts in this new season. So, there wasn't anything to stop me (like bright highlights or all caps notes) as my eyes fell upon Psalm 40. God knew what he was doing, and man. This psalm hits me exactly where I am at this very moment. It pierces my heart and shifts my perspective as I walk through a crazy time in life.
So, for this post, I'm just going to invite you to read the following verses with me and see how God is speaking to you through it. I want the word to speak for itself. And (keep me accountable for this, please), over the next few posts, I'm going to go through this a couple of verses at a time, and share with you what He has been speaking to me over the last few months, with this psalm as a guide through it all. Again, I ask you to keep me accountable for this.
Psalm 40:
I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.
Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after a lie!
You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are more than can be told.
In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
but you have given me an open ear.
Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.
Then I said, "Behold, I have come,
in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
I delight to do your will O my God;
your law is within my heart."
I have told the glad news of deliverance
in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips,
as you know, O Lord.
I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and salvation;
I have not concealed you steadfast love
and your faithfulness from the great congregation.
As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain
your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!
For evils have encompassed me beyond number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
and I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head;
my heart fails me.
Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!
O Lord, make haste to help me!
Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
who delight in my hurt!
Let those be appalled because of their shame
who say to me, "Aha, Aha!"
But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation say continually,
"Great is the Lord!"
As for me, I am poor and needy,
but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer,
do not delay, O my God!
Shoo. Hope you made it through that with the Spirit speaking to you as He spoke to me! Can't wait to dive into this with you. Praise God for the precious gift of the Word, sharper than any double edged sword, piercing through all the facades and walls around our hearts, prompting us to die to ourselves that Love may overtake us.
I love that as believers we can know that God won't restrain His mercy from us and that He hears our prayers!
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