Psalm 119:37 Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, [And] revive me in Your way Take my eyes from considering emptiness; return me to life in Your manners/moral character. Sometimes I’m very selfish. Probably more often than I’d like to admit. It’s especially bad when I’m tired. I also tend towards being non-confrontational and hesitate to voice my frustrations, because I know the reception to them won’t be pleasant. And then the mousehole/molehill becomes a mountain, and a minor annoyance gets blown out of proportion. Maybe when I find myself in this kind of situation, I should remember this verse. Emptiness or emptiness of speech (vanity, worthlessness) is my selfishness. The true thing to look at is my ability to bless others, to love them even when they don’t deserve it. Yeshua did that for me. God does that for me. All that being said, I’m not always sure how to respond when I get frustrated by a situation, especially if I’m stuck doing something that someone else should have done. But then again, Yeshua got stuck paying for my failures that I should have paid for… So, once again it comes down to becoming more like Him in my actions and putting aside my agenda or desires in order to love those around me in the manner in which He first loved me. This is so much easier said than done!
Psalm 10:1 O LORD, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I need you the most? For some reason I feel empty this morning. Maybe because after all the rush and chaos of the last few weeks getting ready for our inaugural gala there’s nothing left to do (it’s over) and I’m not constantly trying to get something finished or talking on the phone to people. But I feel like God is far away, too. I feel like I read and read and it all just goes in one ear and out the other. I don’t like feeling this way. And then God gives me this: Psalm 40 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. 3 He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord. 4 Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols. 5 O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them. 6 You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand[a]— you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings. 7 Then I said, “Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures: 8 I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.” 9 I have told all your people about your justice. I have not been afraid to speak out, as you, O Lord, well know. 10 I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness. 11 Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me. Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me. 12 For troubles surround me— too many to count! My sins pile up so high I can’t see my way out. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage. 13 Please, Lord, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me. 14 May those who try to destroy me be humiliated and put to shame. May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace. 15 Let them be horrified by their shame, for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!” 16 But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!” 17 As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts. You are my helper and my savior. O my God, do not delay. I love it. David speaks my heart once again! From the awe of His blessings to me, to my acknowledgment of my need for Him, to my plea for more of His presence, this Psalm tells the song of my heart today. I love the first part of how He rescues me and lifts me above the mud. And I love how His plans for me are more numerous than I can count (that’s a relief). I love how I, like David, can tell God when I feel like my sins are overwhelming and I feel like they haunt me no matter how many times I confess them. I love that God keeps me in His thoughts. This is a great Psalm. It’s what I needed to water my thirsty soul.