Journaling — Psalm 143
In today’s devotional, we are focusing on Psalm 143 and I share excerpts from my own journal, including a personal prayer in response to the scripture as one example of how to journal scripture.
A psalm of a plea for rescue, Psalm 143:
Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for mercy! Lord, the regrets and sorrows I have caused and the blind eye I have turned on the needs of others—I confess. I repent.
In your faithfulness answer me, in Your righteousness! Enter not into judgment with Your servant, for no one living is righteous before You. (but Christ alone)
For the enemy (using guilt, temptation, complacency, fear, self)
Has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; (with sorrow and depression)
He has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. (I grieve.)
Therefore, my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled. (at my callousness, lack of grace, selfishness, complacency, lack of action)
I have not only disappointed myself and others, I have hurt my God and King. Though I know “no one living is righteous,” (v. 2) yet I have not worn well, yea, have even shrugged off the mantle of Your righteousness with which You have covered me (Isa. 61:10).
I remember the days of old;(stories from Scripture and history, from family, from my own life of God’s presence and work)
I meditate on all that You have done; I ponder the work of Your hands. (the beauty of earth and the heavens, the wonder of Creation, the wonder of human beings and His intricate design of all, the gifts He has given people, even the gifts He has given me, the glimpses and tastes of the joys to come)
I stretch out my hands to You; (in prayer, in adoration)
My soul thirsts for You like a parched land. Selah Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not Your face from me,(messianic prophecy, Christ’s greatest suffering)
Lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of Your steadfast love, (to start and live through the day)
For in You I trust. Make me know the way I should go, (guide me, direct me, lead me)
For to You I lift up my soul. Deliver me from my enemies, (the plethora of regrets and griefs and the sinful self-centered nature that underlies them, those within even more so than those without)
O LORD! I have fled to You for refuge.
Covered by the blood of Jesus Christ to be raised to a newness of life, Lord, help me to be a refuge for others, to draw them in to know refuge in You.
Teach me to do Your will, I want to please You,
For You are my God! not the idols which I have made and worshiped, which I painfully but joyfully submit to the fire before You.
Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground! May I forget “self” and walk toward others as I walk with You.
For Your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In Your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble! And in Your steadfast love, You will cut off my enemies, and You will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am Your servant.
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
Lord, for years I have wanted to do great things for You, but even this week, in thinking of Moses, one of Your greatest and most revered servants, You have shown me that the desire to dofor You is incomplete; that accepted wording is inaccurate, for no one can dofor You. You need nothing. We belittle You in even offering to do for You, for our works are filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). No! We can never do for You, for only You do the real work. But You often choose to work through us. So, I surrender myself, my desires, and all I think I have at Your feet—to know and be filled with awe and wonder of who You are and why You choose to use such a broken and weak vessel.
PRAYER
Do, Father, what only You can do, “for I am Your servant.” Amen. Though I want, and have been taught to want, to do great things for You, I can do nothing but ask You to hold me and to do Your work through me, as You will. Make me an instrument in the beautiful, nail-scarred hand of my Master, Redeemer, and King. Amen.
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Sharon W. Betters is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, pastor’s wife, and cofounder of MARKINC Ministries, where she is the Director of Resource Development. Sharon is the author of several books, including Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness, and co-author with Susan Hunt of Aging with Grace. She is the co-host of the Help & Hope podcast and writes Daily Treasure, an online devotional.
Contact Sharon with comments or questions at dailytreasure@markinc.org.