In great trial,the Spirit whispers, “Worship the Lord and give Him praise.” But my flesh says, “Not now.” But the Spirit’s remedy: “Come and bring a ‘sacrifice of praise.’ There is a struggle because my flesh doesn’t want to, so I spend some time ‘reasoning with God’ with some ‘wrestling’ going on, only to discover that NOW is the time, yes, now, is the time…to praise.
I turned to a song in Isaiah, in the midst of many ‘woes’, and You inspired him to sing, so I sacrifice to focus on the words in print and find they lift me from the pit in which I sit. So I choose to ‘speak’-sing the words in Isaiah 25, and I find a balm for my sores: ‘O LORD, You are God. I will exalt You and I will praise your name. For You have done wonderful things, Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.” (Isaiah 25:1)…”For You have been a strength to the poor, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; for the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.” (Isaiah 25:1,4).
‘…And it will be said in that day: “Behold this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” (Is. 25:9).
I don’t always have a willing heart to praise, but I ask over and over again, ” Lord, will You give me a willing heart, that the words ‘glad’ and ‘rejoice’ may again express my soul. Maybe it’s supposed to ‘feel’ like a sacrifice so that we think about You and the great sacrifice you chose to make for me. Dying on the cross after praying from Your bleeding heart, and even sweating those drops of blood, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39).
Yes, You understand sacrifice.
Then my eyes read on the black and white pages as I confess about my heart in which You can already see, asking for willingness to offer You praise, I see Your promise of peace, for me…instructions for peace, and yes, for me. Truly Lord, You are good: “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.” (Is. 26:3,4).
‘My eyes Lord, get focused in the wrong directions, over and over again. Keep them straight on You Lord and fill me with Your Spirit. May I ‘feed’ my mind and heart and soul on Your word that I might trust You through the storm and be ‘kept’ in Your ‘perfect peace.’ It ‘feels’ like a sacrifice, but help me trust You more, ‘for in YAH, the LORD is everlasting strength.”
So, I flip through the pages of His inspired Book and find the Psalms to give me a song. Today I choose to bring a sacrifice of praise, to You O LORD, from Your very word: Psalm 86 “Teach Me Your Way, O LORD” “Bow down Your ear, O LORD, hear me; For I am poor and needy…Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; And attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me…Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. I will praise You with all of my heart, And I will glorify Your name forevermore.” Psalm 86:1,6,7,11,12).
“You, Lord, have given me a ‘willing heart’ that I might seek Your face, that I might give You praise, even as I wait…I will exalt You. You are my God. In Your presence is peace and joy, I wait on You, the Lover of my soul. ” In Jesus name I pray, Amen.”
Tag: O Lord
"I once was lost, but now I'm found"…the heart of one who finally 'sees'.
You’ve prepared a Table, and I’ve come at last, The broken bread, the poured out wine, were just memories of the past.
But today I’ve come, to the Table again, God, You know me, You’ve watched, I’ve broken Your heart, and not only Yours – Can I make a new start?
Which way am I going? Do I even know its end? It’s the end of ‘not caring’ – God help me care, help me bend.
Revive me again, O Lord, You’re in my heart, but I’ve quenched Your great Spirit, forgive me, don’t depart.
I need you like all the old songs sing, like the flower needs the rain, refresh me again-
You forgive, You forgive, You forgive evermore, take my hard heart and make it soft as before.
For You are the Potter, and I am the clay, mold me and break me and make me a new- that I would once more give wholehearted Praise, in simplicity, to You.
To You alone, I give You Praise, revive me O LORD and change my ways.
That my feet, that my hands, that my lips that speak, would give glory to You, Oh, God – my flesh is so weak –
So I ask from my heart at Your Table today, revive me again, make my spirit willing, time…
and time…
again.
Be my Savior, forgive all my sin, and may Your face shine upon me, yes, shine upon me, forever – forever and again.
Thank you for preparing this Table for me, even in the presence of all my enemies, but today I come and I have come at last, what took me so long, Your love is so steadfast!
I see Your sacrifice was made just for me, I love You Lord Jesus. Thank You for First loving me.
In Jesus name, Amen.