Posted on in Psalms

Psalm 42

Have you read or studied His word this week? How is your quiet time with Him? I’ve to admit, mine wasn’t the greatest, for I’ve wandered off into the creativity of my mind. It has become my most challenging yet to read or pray without distractions. I’ve repented and asked God to return my concentration to Him. Oh, that bad habit is hard to break! Where is your pit of a bad habit? You cannot escape that pit on your strength; we must call upon God to pull you out of it. I pray Psalm 42 will encourage your heart to turn your eyes on Jesus Christ, our Savior.

This prayer is dated July 31/22 and modified a bit from the original. So far, I’ve memorized Psalm 62: 1-6. And I’ve read 10 chapters daily: Five in the OT, two in the Psalms, and three in the NT. Probably skipped one day so far.

We listened to a three-part series on Babylon by Martyn Iles- Australian Christian Lobby. Excellent sermons on how to live our faith in a Babylonian world. Never before have I seen myself like Daniel, living my faith and simply carrying my cross so that I would glorify God.

ADORATION (v1-4)

As a deer pants for flowing streams,so pants my soul for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God,for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my foodday and night,
while they say to me all the day long,“Where is your God?” 4 These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.

Almighty Creator, “My soul thirsts for God, the living God; when shall I appear before God?” You see, my opponents, those who destroyed life lied and plotted evil against your saints. But You, O God, triumphed over them, and you reminded us of your promises that you will return in all your glory. One day a multitude of saints will shout with gladness, joy, and songs of praise to You.

Let us wait together patiently for that day.

CONFESSION ( v. 5-6)

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation 6 and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” There are days my soul is burdened by the demonic culture the west has become. This is my cross to carry. I prayed and asked God to light my heart and give me joy and hope when I doubted there was none. Then I remembered Psalm 62, my soul will wait in silence, for I will trust in God, my rock, my glory, my salvation, my refuge. God’s grace is at work! We must remember that while we live for Him, we carry our cross of faith in whatever situation we face today.

THANKSGIVING (v.7-10)

Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.
8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. 9I say to God, my rock:“Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”10 As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me,while they say to me all the day long,“Where is your God?”

O God, those who asked mockingly, “Where is your God? Why does he let suffering happen? Why did he let the wicket prosper?” We are to answer with wisdom. It is because God’s mercy and grace are at hand, and Jesus Christ calls us to repentance before its final judgement. Is it not love for the saints that drove Him to die on the cross? Yes! We are sinners needed of a Redeemer. And rather than call upon God to save our souls, we live for the gods in this fallen world called Babylon the Great. We can embrace those beautiful psalms filled with His promises, encouragement to the righteous, and lamentation that comfort our burdened souls. Raise up your eyes to Jesus, and wipe your tears. Our King sees everything. Revenge is His. Meanwhile, O my soul, wait in silence.

Let’s Go Pray!

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