Thursday, January 19, 2006
Um... Help?!!?! (Count: Psalm 142)
Psalm 142 summarizes one of the most powerful, meaningful, and common prayers in all of history...
"HELP!?!!"
I wish I had known more about this Psalm at other times in my life.
Sometimes asking God for help is the very last thing we do.
We wait until we're desperate - as maybe David did in this particular song.
I think we often take Philippians 2:15 too strongly, where Paul says, "Do everything without complaining or arguing."
Actually, here's David, the chosen KING of Israel, in the midst of a praise collection, saying, "I pour out my complaint before Him (God."
Do these two verses contradict each other?
It's one thing to complain to God and "pour out your trouble" in private, in the context of an honest, raw, relationship with God.
It's quite another thing to be known as a complainer, preventing your testimony from shining like a star (Philippians 2:14).
But when it's just you and God, let him have it.
Seriously.
I do that. But it's all in a spirit of humility, not accusing or blaming God for my situation. Just being honest with my feelings and my circumstances and asking for God's help.
He loves that. He sees me admit that it's out of my control. He sees that I trust Him. He sees that I am, for at least THIS moment, really dependent. Really is a prayer we should pray more often.
"HELP!?!!"
I wish I had known more about this Psalm at other times in my life.
Sometimes asking God for help is the very last thing we do.
We wait until we're desperate - as maybe David did in this particular song.
I think we often take Philippians 2:15 too strongly, where Paul says, "Do everything without complaining or arguing."
Actually, here's David, the chosen KING of Israel, in the midst of a praise collection, saying, "I pour out my complaint before Him (God."
Do these two verses contradict each other?
It's one thing to complain to God and "pour out your trouble" in private, in the context of an honest, raw, relationship with God.
It's quite another thing to be known as a complainer, preventing your testimony from shining like a star (Philippians 2:14).
But when it's just you and God, let him have it.
Seriously.
I do that. But it's all in a spirit of humility, not accusing or blaming God for my situation. Just being honest with my feelings and my circumstances and asking for God's help.
He loves that. He sees me admit that it's out of my control. He sees that I trust Him. He sees that I am, for at least THIS moment, really dependent. Really is a prayer we should pray more often.
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