Read:
143:1 Hear my prayer, O Lord;
give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
2 Enter not into judgment with your servant,
for no one living is righteous before you.
3 For the enemy has pursued my soul;
he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;
my heart within me is appalled.
5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.
6 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah
7 Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord! I have fled to you for refuge.
10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!
11 For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life!
In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
12 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.
Reflect:
Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night stressed out by bills, deadlines, or broken relationships?
That’s David’s prayer in Psalm 143, “Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for mercy!” He’s completely overwhelmed, but he refuses to give in. Instead, he recalls God’s past faithfulness, stretching out his hands in prayer.
David knows God is not distant. He fully expects God to respond because God’s track record is rescue, guidance, and steadfast love.
When life presses in, Psalm 143 reminds us in verse 10 that we’re never alone. God is the only one who can lift us out of the pit and place our feet on solid ground. So this week →
Repent:
Read Psalm 143: Notice how David shifts from desperation to dependence. In our desperate dependant reality we see that God is with us, and God is Good #AllTheTime
Name Your Struggles: Like literally write them down, or say them outloud, Whether it be fear, regret, or anxiety—ask God to be your deliverance!
Pray This: “Lord, I’m overwhelmed, but I’m choosing to trust You. Teach me Your will and guide me by Your Spirit.”
Re-Read: Psalm 143, with anticipation for what God has FOR you in the Gap’s that are overwhelming you… it’s kind of an exciting thought, knowing that God wastes NOTHING and that even the biggest gaps, in the hand of our God will be for our Good.
