Courage | December 6
I opened my mouth and panted, for I longed for Your commandments.
Look upon me and be merciful to me, as Your custom is toward those who love Your name.
Direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me.
Redeem me from the oppression of man, that I may keep Your precepts.
Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes.
Rivers of water run down from my eyes, because men do not keep Your law.
Psalm 119:131-136
Father, will we ever open our mouth and pant, as one trying to sustain life while in pursuit of Your commandments? Here the Psalmist does so, begging You to fulfill his need for Your instruction, presence and compassion.
If in a moment of gasping for Your air, Your mercy lies ahead of us, would it not be when the end seems near, when fear has taken hold of us? Do we need to wait Father for dire circumstances before we seek the refreshment of Your Holy Spirit? No, Father, it is frequently in times of despair that we turn our eyes to You. If we only look to You when we are in trouble, what pitiful Christians we would be. Help us today to make you the center of all our experiences, not just when things are not going well. We look to You because there is no other perfect Friend.
The Psalmists laments, with tears, because men do not keep Your law. Give us a heart for the lost, Father, and help us, this day, to show Your love to others. We pray in Jesus’ Holy name, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project