READ:
Psalms 25-26
Both of these Psalms talk about the Psalmist (David
in both cases) living a blameless life. His desire is to walk with integrity.
It is clear David’s hope is in God’s faithfulness to those who fear Him. He is
in a tough place again. Enemies. Struggles. Life is hard and David needs to
know where his safety net is. As we read through Psalm 25 we see where that
safety net is. It is firmly in the faithfulness of God.
David is quite clear about the fact that God is faithful
and loving. Yet he is also clear there is a part to play for individuals. Verse
3: Those who hope in the Lord (our part) will never be put to shame (God’s
part). Verse 10: God’s ways are loving
and faithful (God’s part) to those who keep His commands (our part). Verse 14:
The Lord confides (God’s part) in those who fear Him (our part). The Psalmist
commits his way to the Lord because he longs for the kind of relationship with
God in which he can be confident God will do His part. This Psalm displays the
beauty of a relationship between God and man where man needs God’s help to love
Him, obey Him, and even have the breath to praise Him; and where God’s gifts
and promises are handed out in abundance because of man’s faithfulness. This
two-part harmony is what makes a relationship with God so dynamic and powerful.
You can’t have one without the other.
The confidence David has in his relationship with
God is evidenced in the way he prays. He asks. He asks boldly. He tells God
about his integrity! How often do we grovel before the Lord instead of walking
confidently into the throne room of God secure in His forgiveness and our
position as His children? He says to the Lord “turn to me”, “look at me”,
“guard me”. There is no question the Lord will answer. He regularly asks the
Lord to examine his heart and forgive him (verse 11). This is a man who walks
in the truth of the Word of God. If God says he’s forgiven… he is. If God says
He’ll do something… He will. These truths affect David’s thinking and living. Our
relationship with God should be as dynamic and confident as David’s with the
Lord. Is it?
JOURNALING
AND PRAYER
1. Like David teaches us in Psalm 25, God wants us
involved in a dynamic relationship with Him so He’s given us things to do, and
He reserves the much larger part for Himself. Ask the Lord if there is
something you have been praying for that He can’t give you yet because He’s
waiting for you to do your part. If there is, ask Him to help you do your part
and commit to doing it. If not, ask Him for next steps to get closer to Him in
this dynamic relationship.
2. Ask the Lord to show you if there are any areas
where you are not secure in His forgiveness of your sin, or maybe one
particular sin. Ask the Holy Spirit for a verse, or thought or picture of how
complete His forgiveness is toward you. Journal what He shows you.
3. Ask God to show you if there’s something you
haven’t asked Him for because you lack the confidence. Or ask Him what He wants
you to ask for so you can ask in confidence. Journal how you feel about asking
God for blessing or miracles. Spend time in prayer over the things He’s
revealed to you.
