Monday, September 28, 2009

In God I Trust


Holy Father, find me. Search for me quickly! I feel as though I am adrift at sea and no one can spot me. I am but a speck, at a great distance away, too small to find. Father, your great waters are bobbing me up and down so that I am sick. I am unable to rescue myself, and no one else can hear my cry for help. I have sent out distress signals, but no one is watching. Everyone is busy emptying their own boats which are taking in water. I have given up on putting my confidence in those 'round about me. You have taught me that no one else is as reliable as you are. I have learned that I also have not heard or seen those flares from my friends. Father, forgive me for not being prepared, ready, and waiting for their signals.
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Father, you are my refuge. I am swimming hard to reach your shores. Please do not allow me to be removed from your safety. I know you are concerned for me, because there is no other who can protect like you. Where you are is always a good place to be found in times of trouble. Father, all of my troubles, cares, and worries - I throw them onto you. You receive them all so that I may rest easy and that I may be glad. You know how weary I am from running so hard away from them. You rub my sore muscles with your healing hands so that I fall quickly asleep.
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Father, you have rescued so many who have put their trust in you. You have delivered so many from such deadly perils, and you will deliver me as well. You are my only hope; there is no other on whom I can depend. There are many who have never heard of you, and therefore do not trust you like I do. But Lord, I cannot help but tell everyone how you have saved me. I have put my trust in you, and you have never left me alone. You have taught me in some difficult ways, but your lessons have become clear to me. It took me a while to see the answer clearly, but now I see how only you can be trusted.
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Father, I thought it was good for me to be proud, but you have taught me that I cannot. Instead, I boast only in what Christ has done for me, not what I have done for thee. Nothing I am; no matter how long I've followed you, can increase my worth in your eyes. I am no better than the best or worst in my life, I am only proud to be covered by Christ's blood. Without His life, sacrifice, and resurrection, all my hope would be lost. But because He reigns by your right hand, everything you've promised has already been guaranteed. Only in him and through faith in him may we approach you freely and confidently.
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So it is because of him I can come to you with my cries and petitions, knowing that you hear me. I am confident that you care for me, and that you will come quickly to my rescue. Have you not told me that I am worth more than the grass, the flowers, or the little birds? I know you care, and I will only trust in you. Please Father, now pick me up and place me in the cup of your hand and cover me. Dry me, warm me, feed me, protect me, provide for me, exalt me and elevate me in front of everyone. Allow me to proclaim to everyone how good you are, and what you've done for me. You have molded me, Father into a vessel of honor. Now Father, I am ready to be used for your purposes. Use me to pour out your Spirit onto others, Father. Use my touch to heal others pain. Use my voice to encourage others sorrow. Hear my prayers as I cry to you for them. Lord, come and rescue your people, and save us from this sorrow filled world. May the Holy son, Jesus Christ, my brother, take these words, and present them to you in his own way.
Amen.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Psalms 25


1 A Psalm of David. To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me.
3 Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.
4 Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths.
5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.
6 Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your loving kindnesses, For they are from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness' sake, O Lord.

8 Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.
9 The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.
11 For Your name's sake, O Lord, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
12 Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.
13 He himself shall dwell in prosperity, And his descendants shall inherit the earth.
14 The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant.

15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord, For He shall pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, For I am desolate and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart have enlarged; Bring me out of my distresses!
18 Look on my affliction and my pain, And forgive all my sins.
19 Consider my enemies, for they are many; And they hate me with cruel hatred.
20 Keep my soul, and deliver me; Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You.

22 Redeem Israel, O God, Out of all their troubles!