Psalm 19
March 7, 2021
O Glorious One,
The heavens declare your glory, the skies proclaim the work of your hands. Grant us time and give us the willpower to step back from our busy lives and look at the sky. Help us to really stop once this week, step outside, look up and around us and let the skies pour forth their speech to us though no sound may be heard. Would you reveal to us your majesty in your creation as you did before David? God, we know that you make beautiful things – clouds, rainbows, birds, towering trees, sparkling lakes, green grass, to name a few – but we seldom take the time to just be in the midst of your beauty. Give us the desire and discipline to carve out time to take in your beauty that you have set all around us.
Father, awaken our hearts to take pleasure in your law. We want to be able to say with David that your law refreshes our soul, gives us joy, that it is more precious to us than gold and sweeter than honey. Almighty God, we confess that we often lack this enthusiasm in our faith, especially when it comes to obeying your law. Many times, we obey outwardly but lack a pure heart, and often we just outright disobey your law. Father, we ask, alongside the psalmist, that you would keep us from willful sins; may they not rule over us. Bring our hidden faults into the light, forgive us, and transform us. God we pray that you would satisfy us and that the joy you bring us would radiate outward.
Jesus, we pray that the church would be a light in our hurting world. Lord, we lift up the country of Myanmar and the unrest there. We pray that you would bring stability to the country and an openness to the hearts of those there to hear and respond to the gospel. Strengthen the believers there to stand for what is right and spread the good news. Holy Spirit, would you move to make the body of Christ abroad and locally to act as an agent of healing, helping unbelievers to taste the sweetness of your law, even in times of great despair? Would you transform the Church of North America from a political platform to a radical movement of agape love? Father, give us open hearts and hands to be used by you to the glory of our Savior and King, Jesus Christ.
Lord, may the words of Psalm 19 become our words and the meditation we read become our hearts’ desire. Please cleanse us and make us pleasing in your sight, Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. All glory and honor we give to you, O Glorious One.
And all God’s people said,
Amen.