Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.
My friend Sawyer and I have been going through the Bible together one chapter at a time over the last two years, and as luck may have it, we are currently in the book of Psalms. As I’m writing this devotion, I am looking back at our text messages from barely three days ago on Psalm 70. After reading much of the book of Psalms, I have learned many things that I can apply to my walk with Christ, specifically within my prayer life, and it is evident that David writes and prays in a pattern that seems to mimic his own stream of consciousness. His technique of processing grief or difficult situations begins with calling out to the Lord by name while describing his environment, emotions, and struggles as if he is venting to a close friend.
“Save me, O God!... I sink in deep mire…I am weary with my crying…my eyes fail while I wait for my God…they are mighty who would destroy me.”
It is clear from these opening verses that David is in quite the predicament. He is desperate for help from the Lord. We have all experienced the feeling of being overwhelmed and insufficient. After all, we are only human, and our insufficiency is our nature. What David does next is what makes or breaks us in our faith.
“Though I have stolen nothing, I still must restore it…O God, you know my foolishness, and my sins are not hidden from you.”
David recognizes that the Lord desires for us to humble ourselves before Him. When we incline our hearts towards self-sacrifice, and bring unto the Lord a countenance absent of our pride, we give God the perfect canvas to paint a picture of his grace, mercy, and sufficiency. So far, David has told the Lord his situation, and he has laid himself completely bare before the Lord. The next few verses are David’s plea to the Lord for aid.
"O God, in the multitude of your mercy… deliver me out of the mire…turn to me in the multitude of your tender mercies.”
David appeals to the Lord’s merciful nature for help. Hosea 6:6 tells us that God “desires mercy over sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” When we find ourselves suffering and experiencing pain, especially pain and suffering caused by our own mistakes and misgivings, God isn’t looking down on us with anger or disappointment. He is looking at us, eager to extend his hand to redeem us, and all we have to do is ask for it. At this point in the chapter, David has now explained his situation to God, humbled himself before Him, and made the request for mercy and help. David goes on to end the chapter by asking the Lord to denounce and curse his enemies (a parallel can be drawn here between David denouncing his enemies and the reader denouncing their own sins or “demons”). He worships the Lord, saying:
“Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything in them.”
Psalm 70 should serve as an example to us of what it looks like for a Christian who has matured in their faith to pray to the Lord during troubling times, or any time, for that matter. Acts 13:22 tells us that David was a man after “God’s own heart.” If he handles crises in this manner, surely we should as well!
Take two minutes to reflect in silence.
Reflection:
Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.
- SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
- OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises?
- APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you?
- PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.
FALL AT VENTURE
KXP, MVMNT, The Gathering, House Church, and Care Groups are all starting back this fall! You can check out the Fall at Venture webpage for launch dates and events happening at Venture this fall.