Today’s Reading: Zachariah 6-7, Revelation 15, Psalm 143, Proverbs 30:24-28

Context: Psalm 143 is considered a psalm of lament and is closely related to Psalm 6 and 38.  It is a great Psalm to visit when you realize sin, need direction or feel desperate for God.  It was exciting for me to read through this Psalm this morning and see my notes from this summer – 6/25/11 – seeking God’s direction for my life.  I prayed these words for clarity in the way I should go.

Psalm 143:7-12 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.
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.

Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord!
 I have fled to you for refuge! Teach me to do your will,
 for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
 on level ground!

For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life!
 In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
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.

Observations:

• Answer me quickly, O Lord!
• Make me known the way I should go…
• Teach me to do your will…
• For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life!
• …I am your servant

God answers prayer!  The notes on the margins of my Bible from six months ago are crying out to God for direction.  God had just prompted Rebecca and I to pray over whether He was calling us to leave camp or not.  Six months later, He has answered us quickly, made known the way we should go and taught us to do His will for His name’s sake.

Apply: Lord, your name (for your name’s sake) is to be praised!  Thank you for so clearly answering prayer time and again for Rebecca and me.  Help me to truly have a posturing of a servant.

Have you prayed God’s Word over your life?  Do you have similar stories of direct answers?