Psalm119:169-172 Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your Word!

Psalm119:169-172 Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your Word! Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your Word. My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes. My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right.

You are faithful, Lord, you do hear my cry, give me understanding and deliver me. My pleas do come before you, you are the all hearing One.

Great is your faithfulness. Oh God, my Father. Morning by morning, no turning I see. Your Word does not fail me, it guides and sustains me. Always there, always complete, always true, it defines goodness, righteousness and holiness.

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of the Holy Spirit to lead me into all truth. Thank you that you are opening the eyes of my heart to see and practice the unseen, those things which are eternal and speak of You and your Glory.

Psalm 89:19- 29 Of old You spoke in a vision to Your godly one, and said: "I have granted help to one who is mighty;

Psalm 89:19- 29 Of old You spoke in a vision to Your godly one, and said: "I have granted help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people. I have found David, My servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him, so that My hand shall be established with him; My arm also shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not outwit him; the wicked shall not humble him. I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him. My faithfulness and My steadfast love shall be with him, and in My name shall his horn be exalted. I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers. He shall cry to Me, 'You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.' And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. My steadfast love I will keep for him forever, and My covenant will stand firm for him. I will establish his offspring forever and his throne as the days of the heavens.

Your covenant, LORD, stands from generation, without flaw or blemish. You have covenanted that one of David's descendants would rule forever and His throne would be as the days of the heavens. You set your Son, the son of David and the Son of God at Your right hand and put all things under Him, to rule in justice and righteousness from everlasting to everlasting.

Psalm 89:11-18 The heavens are Yours; the earth also is Yours; the world and all that is in it, You have founded them.

Psalm 89:11-18 The heavens are Yours; the earth also is Yours; the world and all that is in it, You have founded them. The north and the south, You have created them; Tabor and Hermon joyously praise Your name. You have a mighty arm; strong is Your hand, high Your right hand.
(14) Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before You. Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O LORD, in the light of Your face, who exult in Your name all the day and in Your righteousness are exalted. For You are the glory of their strength; by Your favor our horn is exalted. For our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of Israel.

Blessed, blessed, blessed am I. You are my light; my song of praise throughout the day; in You is strength and life. You are a strong arm, upholding the covering of Your shield over me; there is nothing that can come between You and Your chosen one.

Praise You, my Lord and my Savior, my Master and Redeemer, my Immanuel.

Psalm 89:5-10 Let the heavens praise Your wonders, O LORD, Your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!

Psalm 89:5-10 Let the heavens praise Your wonders, O LORD, Your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD, a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him? O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as You are, O LORD, with Your faithfulness all around You? You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, You still them. You crushed Rahab like a carcass; You scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.

You make the mountains skip like rams; the hills like lambs. You make the seas rage and the winds blast; the lightning and thunder to rend the earth. And yet your might and power can quell the raging sea with a quiet word; it can restore life with a simple command and convert the hardest heart with an act of sacrifice.

Psalm 89:1-4 I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever...

Psalm 89:1-4 A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth I will make known Your faithfulness to all generations. For I said, "Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens You will establish Your faithfulness." You have said, "I have made a covenant with My chosen one; I have sworn to David My servant: 'I will establish Your offspring forever, and build Your throne for all generations.'" Selah

This is my marching order for the day, to sing of Your steadfast love; and to make known Your faithfulness to all generations. What doors will You open today? Where will You send me? Lord, that I not turn aside to the right or the left but stay steadfast in the Way and obedient to Your word.

Exodus 34:21 "Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest.

Exodus 34:21 "Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest.

Lord, why do I always think I know better than You and that I don't need a day of rest and refreshment? Why cannot I learn that there is divine wisdom in Your words and Father knows best? Will I rest today? Will I revel in Your presence today? Will I set aside all the cares and worries of my work-a-day week? Will I obey? Lead me, Lord.

Psalm 88:13- 18 But I, O LORD, cry to You; in the morning my prayer comes before You.

Psalm 88:13- 18 But I, O LORD, cry to You; in the morning my prayer comes before You. O LORD, why do You cast my soul away? Why do You hide Your face from me? Afflicted and close to death from my Youth up, I suffer Your terrors; I am helpless. Your wrath has swept over me; Your dreadful assaults destroy me. They surround me like a flood all day long; they close in on me together. You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness.

Strengthen us, give us the power to do and to speak boldly in Your Name before all. Keep us from those hidden sins that corrupt and destroy; lay a cloak of obedience in all things upon us to demonstrate Your love for us ans our love for You.

Lord, that our confessions of faith would be true and active, bless us, Lord, bless us.

Psalm 88:9b-12 Every day I call upon You, O LORD; I spread out my hands to You.

Psalm 88:9b-12 Every day I call upon You, O LORD; I spread out my hands to You. Do You work wonders for the dead? Do the departed rise up to praise You? Selah Is Your steadfast love declared in the grave, or Your faithfulness in Abaddon? Are Your wonders known in the darkness, or Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

Bless those dear brothers. bless them while they are in prison. Bless them in the turmoil of the living units; bless them in the yard and cafeteria as they witness to others by deed and word. Bless them as they obey the corrections officers and as they work with caseworkers and counselors.

Bless them after release as they work with Probation and Parole, as they seek housing and employment. Bless them as they re-establish relationships with friends and family. Bless all whom they touch through the demonstration of the transforming power of Your grace and mercy.

Psalm 88:6-9a You have put me in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep.

Psalm 88:6-9a You have put me in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep. Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and You overwhelm me with all Your waves. Selah You have caused my companions to shun me; You have made me a horror to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape; my eye grows dim through sorrow.

Lord, I find myself moved to pray for my friends and brothers in the prisons; abandoned by family, shunned by former friends, surrounded by evil and deceit. Many crying out to You for release from the horrors of the Devil but not willing to concede all their will to You. Lord, give them compliant hearts that they will allow to be molded into Your image. Show them that entering into Your Kingdom is not release from prison but is release from sin and decay. That that release is not into restriction but is release into Freedom.

Psalm 85 :1-5 O LORD, God of my salvation; I cry out day and night before You.

Psalm 88:1-5 A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, God of my salvation; I cry out day and night before You. Let my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry! For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am a man who has no strength, like one set loose among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom You remember no more, for they are cut off from Your hand.

Lord, there is no strength in me, not of myself or of my own will and determination. I cannot restore my life, let alone the life of another. My soul is troubled by what I see in me and by what I fear for others. It is so difficult to remember and obey "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7)

Psalm 87:4-7 Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush--

Psalm 87:4-7 Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush-- "This one was born there," they say. And of Zion it shall be said, "This one and that one were born in her"; for the Most High Himself will establish her. The LORD records as He registers the peoples, "This one was born there." Selah Singers and dancers alike say, "All my springs are in You."

When will the nations say of Your Church, "You are born in Zion, you are the voice of the Almighty?" When will the walk of the Church inspire the nations to say so? When will we stand for Truth and for the Word of the Lord? When will we speak righteousness and justice into evil and sin? When will Your Church come to its knees in repentance?

Psalm 87:1-3 On the holy mount stands the city He founded;

Psalm 87:1-3 A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. A Song. On the holy mount stands the city He founded; the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God. Selah

"The Church's one Foundation/ is Jesus Christ, our Lord." Your city, Lord, founded on You, laid out according to Your Word, with wide and smooth streets, secure gates and magnificent architecture. The Church is your city and its inhabitants are Your temple. Our great joy is to speak of Your goodness and praise Your Name to the nations around us.

Praise Your Holy Name.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,

Exodus 20:1-2, 7
And God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. ...You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

This is joy, true joy, complete joy; to know that when I am laboring in the power of Your name, my labor is not in vain. What peace, what freedom from anxiety, what singleness of purpose to know that You guide my every step and oversee every step of my path. This is Shalom, to be at those tasks that You prepared for me as a way of life. Praise You, Lord and Master.

Psalm 119:164 Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules.

Psalm 119:164 Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules.

This is a continuing theme, Lord, to learn to be in communion with you constantly during my day. How can I learn to be more attentive to your Holy Spirit? Why do I respond to the distractions and yet my ears can be so deaf, my eyes so blind to Your calls to me? There are scales on the eyes of my heart, the scales that result from sin and from going my own way. Lord, remove them as the scales dropped from the eyes of Saul. From the evidence of his life, it was not only removal of the scales from his physical eyes but from the eyes of his heart also. I want and hunger for that sight.

Lord make me blind to this world and fully sighted to your Kingdom. And then to praise you not seven but seven times seventy times a day.

Psalm 86:14-17 O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life,

Psalm 86:14-17 O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they do not set You before them. But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Turn to me and be gracious to me; give Your strength to Your servant, and save the son of Your maidservant. Show me a sign of Your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because You, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

You have put several young people into the care of Betty and I, to nurture, mentor and disciple. We need Your strength and wisdom. We need to be able to carry the message of mercy and grace. We need to be able to show Your love on faithfulness. Guide us, Lord. Be gracious unto us.

Psalm 86:12-13 I give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,

Psalm 86:12-13 I give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify Your name forever. For great is Your steadfast love toward me; You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

Lord, as my discouragement waxes and my perseverance wanes; as the trials mount and as I am thrown off by the lack of perceived progress, You are here to tell me that all is under Your control; that You have all things under Your feet and that I am to stay in Your presence.

Psalm 86:11 Teach me Your way, O LORD, that I may walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.

Psalm 86:11 Teach me Your way, O LORD, that I may walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.

Teach me and lead me, not in my head but in my heart. Unite my heart, restore its brokenness to wholeness, fill it with Your glory and teach me to rever You. Lord, instruct me so that I will hold Your name, Your glorious name, always before me as my sword and shield. But not only as protection against the evil one, but to be the Flame, the Fire, the Unseeable Light that is the Source of all; to fear You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.

Psalm 86:6- 10 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.

Psalm 86:6- 10 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. In the day of my trouble I call upon You, for You answer me. There is none like You among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like Yours. All the nations You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name. For You are great and do wondrous things; You alone are God.

What other god would be so involved in the minutest detail of my life, so concerned for my wellbeing and that my actions and life would glorify Your name? It is beyond comprehension that You, the Master and Creator of the universe, would be instantly available to to provide guidance, wisdom and solace.

Psalm 86:1-5 Incline Your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

Psalm 86:1-5 Incline Your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Preserve my life, for I am godly; save Your servant, who trusts in You--You are my God. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to You do I cry all the day. Gladden the soul of Your servant, for to You, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For You, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon You.

Lord, I'm calling for help and guidance, for Your wisdom in dealing with the challenges that You have set before me. I am fearful of running ahead of your will, of making decisions and taking actions without consulting You. Help me, Lord, to be in constant prayer, discussing this matter with You at every step.

Exodus 20:1-2, 4-6 And God spoke all these words, " You shall not make for yourself a carved image,

Exodus 20:1-2, 4-6
And God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. ... You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

I keep searching for those idols of my own manufacture and filled with sorrow that they are not that hard to find. Even this column can become something that supersedes Your call to being with You in quiet and solitude. My sinful nature urges me to be compulsive about self-assumed obligations and ignoring that gentle call be be with You. Forgive me, Lord.

Psalm 119:153-154 Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget Your law.

Psalm 119:153-154 Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget Your law. Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to Your promise!

Lord, I still find that the reactions of others to what I say or do is of major importance to me. Why do I look to others for a sign of approval when You have given me a scripture to share or meditate upon? Why do I hunger for someone to tell me I was hearing You? Why cannot I trust that I do hear You and do hear the leading of Your Holy Spirit?

Give me life, Lord, give me life that feeds upon You and Your "Well done," not some weak substitute for life that Satan tells me is necessary for the peace of my soul. Lord, bring the eyes of my heart to see you clearly and without distraction.

Psalm 85:13 Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.

Yea, you do give Good to me and my life yields the fruit of Your grace and mercy. As I draw near to You, the Joy of the Presence begins to flood my soul slowly transforming me from glory into the glory of Your image. Praise You, Lord.

Psalm 85: 10-12 Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.

Psalm 85: 10-12 Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky. Yes, the LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.

Your steadfast love, O Lord, pours down upon me like the warm, nourishing spring rain and my soul responds in faithfulness; Your righteousness envelops me as a soft quilt and my soul is filled with peace. To be faithful in Your eyes is to invite Your righteousness into my life and live in harmony with You.

Psalm 85:8-9 Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people,

Psalm 85:8-9 Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly. Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.

Lord, call out some God-fearing leaders who have the courage to call Your church to repentance. We need shepherds who will lay our unfaithfulness before us and implore us to fall to our knees and repent. We need to cry out to You to restore and renew us, to fill us once again with that white-hot heat of our first love. Restore us, O Lord, let Your face shine upon us that we may be saved.

Psalm 85:4-7 Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us!

Psalm 85:4-7 Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us! Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.

And now the time has come again, Lord, we have forsaken You, we have followed false teachings, we have turned to idolatrous practices and allowed sexual iniquity to invade our assemblies, our works are in Your name but are intended to glorify us and our names, and we have allowed the fire of our faith to die out and to no longer blaze with a white hot heat. Fill our hearts with shame and bring us to our knees in repentance.

Psalm 85:1-3 LORD, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.

Psalm 85:1-3 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. LORD, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. Selah You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger.

Again and again, Lord, You have called Your people out of their Egypts. You, the Gracious God call to Your people in revival and restoration. We, Your church, have sinned, we have followed other gods, we have forsaken our first love, and yet You, in Your grace and mercy, have reached out to gather us in again.

Ephesians 5:15-17 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

Exodus 20:1-3 And God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me."

Ephesians 5:15-17 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, (16) making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (17) Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

How often, Lord God Almighty, does the unwise and unwholesome use of my time reflect that I have put some other god before You? The answer has to be, "Always!" How can I be obedient to Your directive to love You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and then indulge in activities that bring dishonor to Your Name? And to take this a step farther, how can I be engaged in any activity that does not bring honor to Your name?

Psalm 119:150-152 They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from Your law.

Psalm 119:150-152 They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from Your law. But You are near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are true. Long have I known from Your testimonies that You have founded them forever.

Lord, there is great contentment in Your presence, a peace without equal and a joy of complete fulfillment. It comes from knowing You and knowing that Your commandments are the necessary and sufficient Truth. It comes from the presence of Your Holy Spirit within me as the seal on my acceptance into Your Kingdom and as my guide through life. It comes and I receive it with thanksgiving, praise and gratitude.

Praise You, my Lord and Savior.

Psalm 119: 145-147 With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD!

Psalm 119: 145-147 With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD! I will keep your statutes. I call to you; save me, that I may observe your testimonies. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words.

Lord, I join with the writer in crying to You for help in applying my salvation to Your Kingdom. I thank You and praise You for the forgetting of my sins, that You remember them no more.

Now, lead me and teach me to observe all Your statutes and to carry the evidence of Your Grace through deed and word. You have carved out a sphere of influence that is uniquely mine to serve You in. Through Your power, manifest in the Holy Spirit, I am equipped for the task.

Psalm 84:8-12 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah

Psalm 84:8-12 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed! For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!

Lord, not only have You given me a day in Your court, You have given me thousands and a certain hope of an infinite more to come. And You keep showing me the treasures of Your courts, revealing the myriads and myriads of blessings that flow from Your presence. The good things, the jewels from Your treasure chest, are poured over me in a cascading flood of light and color, revealing an Understanding of You as Goodness.

Praise You, LORD God Almighty.

Psalm 84:5-7 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

Psalm 84:5-7 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.

Blessed am I for my strength is in You. You have transformed my heart and filled it with the desire to lead others to You. You have made me a spring overflowing with Your message of love, grace and mercy, springs to lead others into Your blessings and encourage others to seek Your face.

Praise You, my Lord, Master and Savior.