Confidential

Back in Psalm 25!  This time some verses really jumped out at me.

"Who then is the man that fears the Lord? HE will instruct him in the way chosen for him." Psalm 25:12

HE has already chosen my way...from the first moment to the last. And he will instruct me in it if I listen, and fear him.

"The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them." Psalm 25:14

Am I the Lord's confidant? Do I ever really stop to listen...to hear what God has to say? Indeed, I strive to listen, but do I really HEAR him, or just to the wishes of my own heart?

He has made a covenant with me. This Psalm lists only a few of the many things he promises to do for me, if only I will surrender to him. Oh, if I would only surrender to him.

LORD...
instruct me...i want to be teachable, and to learn from your ways
show me...the path YOU would have for me
teach me...let me sit at your feet
guide me...for my heart wills that I go my own way
forgive me...for not trusting you, and for running ahead again
turn to me...for I love you, and I need to see the light of your face
look upon me...in your merciful love
guard me...for my heart is weak and the Enemy preys on it

Lord, let me never take my eyes off of you. Let me hear your voice, Lord, feel your presence, taste of your goodness. Thank you that your promises never fail.

A Double Blessing

God is so good. He brought me a twofold blessing at church this morning. First of all, one of my favorite people ever was visiting with his wife, and was singing a special number in the service. Michael's voice has always been a vessel of the Holy Spirit. He has a sweet, natural and genuine tone, and no matter what he sings, he sings with only one thing in mind...to bring glory to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is also such an open person that he is able to invite you in to the presence of God through his voice and his spirit. It was a blessing to see and hear him again.

Secondly, the song he sang is one I have heard many times, but never really listened to. As I was able to play and listen this morning the words connected with my spirit for the first time. How often do I actually find myself at a loss for words? Even now, I feel the need to ramble on when what I should do is just encourage you to listen, and read the words below.

Mercy Me -- Word of God, Speak

I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say

Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak

I'm finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice

I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JK_6osCH74&feature=related

Lord, let me be "in the midst of you." What a precious thought. Let me find times to be quiet, and to listen to you. Word of God, speak. Be powerful in my life. Transform me, teach me, guide me, fill me to overflowing, and let me rest in your holiness.

Psalm 25

I have been following my pastor's advice, and working my way through the Psalms. It can, at times, be an exercise in obedience. But, then there come the times when God just reaches down and lays his hand on me, and says, LISTEN, CHILD...I WANT YOU TO HEAR ME. That happened today.

I was reading Psalm 25, and there were several passages that stood out to me.

v. 1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God.

How many times do I distrust him? And yet he allows me to lift up my soul to him; that very core of my being that cries out in loneliness and longing, that is black at times, that reaches for heaven. And yet, just two Psalms back he promises to restore my soul. Lord, restore my soul to you DAILY. I lift it up.

v. 3 No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame.

v. 4-5 Show me your ways, O lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

All day long, Lord. Can you show me what it is like to hope in you all day long? Show me a hope that goes beyond my longings to your glory. Teach me your paths, like how to get outside myself, and see your truth.

v. 10 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.

At times, Lord, your ways do not seem loving. They are painful, trying, filled with loss, frustrating. Yet you promise to instruct me in your ways, and that you will keep your covenant with me because of your faithfulness. So I will continue to hope and trust in you.

v. 14 The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.

Lord, confide in me. Tell me things that not everyone gets to hear. Confide in me as a bosom friend. I want to know the deepest parts of you.

v. 21 May integrity and uprightness protect me because my hope is in you.

Is Jesus precious to you?

My pastor recently asked in a sermon, "Is Jesus precious to you?" I had to really think about that. I gave my life to Christ a long time ago, and although I have known him as my Savior and Lord, and that he has guided my life and decisions on endless occasions, I had to ask myself if he was indeed precious to me. The answer, I discovered, is -- not precious enough.

I think of many things as precious. My new little nephew, time with friends, memories of my grandmothers, my mother and father, my sweet sister. But the Bible says clearly that I must "disown" all of these things if I am to truly follow Christ. How does one do that, exactly? I know in my head that Jesus should be the ONE thing, and all others should fall away. And then there are the dreams and hopes of many more unfulfilled desires that I also hold precious. How do I let go of those?

I think it was Corrie Ten Boom said that one should never hold something so tightly that it hurts when God has to pry your fingers open to take it from you. I want to get to that place...that all else becomes secondary to my precious Jesus. I just pray that Jesus can show me how to do it, because it is not in me to make it happen. I can feel myself tearing up as I write this. My fingers hurt.