Well it’s near that time of year again … My “Annual Birthday Prayer Run” beginning April 1! I’ve done it annually since age 65… The week of my birthday (which is on April 8) I run my age in miles (and dedicate the time spent doing it to prayer for prayer needs sent to me. This year I’ll be turning 79 on April 8 – You got it… 79 miles beginning April 1 and finishing by April 8. This announcement is just a “heads-up” – If you have a prayer need you’d like me to pray about as I run then just message me via Facebook Messenger, or text via 972-921-9317 or my email (leroybartel@gmail.com) … as always, needs are treated with strict confidentiality.
As a Christian, have you ever failed the Lord and fallen into sin? I have! What should you do when that happens (and the Holy Spirit “convicts” (or convinces) you of your sin… 1 John 1:9 is a brief and direct answer to that question: “If we confess our sin [acknowledge our sin and ask God to forgive us], He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS!
But how to pray… what to say? This morning, during my time of “Coffee with the Lord” I read a psalm of David that I believe can help provide the words for such a prayer… Here it is… My advice? When you’ve fallen into sin and failed God, make these words your own in prayer!…
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“To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust; let me not be put to shame! Let not my enemies exult over me! Indeed, none who wait for You shall be put to shame! … Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day long.
“Remember Your mercy, O Lord, and Your steadfast love! … Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions! According to Your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of Your goodness, O Lord!
“Good and upright are You Lord; therefore You instruct those who have sinned in Your way.! You lead the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble Your way. All Your paths are steadfast love and faithfulness…
“For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great! Who is the person who fears the Lord? You will instruct him in the way that he should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being… Your friendship is for those who fear him, and You make known to him Your covenant.
“My eyes are ever toward You O Lord, for You will pluck my feet out of the net! Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins… Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You! Redeem me O God, out of all of my troubles!”
Adapted for personal prayer from Psalm 25 (a psalm of David)
A SHEPHERD … Think about it – What does a shepherd do?
That came to mind as I read Psalm 23 this morning during my time of “Coffee with the Lord”
In the time of David, Old Testament King of Israel, who before becoming king, served as “shepherd” for his father Jesse, shepherding was done differently than it is often done today! It wasn’t done from the back of a horse or an ATV! You didn’t “drive” sheep. You didn’t simply “put in your hours” with them and then go home to sleep. You didn’t herd them into a corral and close the gate behind the flock to keep them from dangerous animals. You really lived among them in the Judean countryside…
Think about it… That kind of shepherd protected his sheep, defended them, helped them, provided for them, guided them, led them, sought them if they strayed, and even corrected them if they were in danger of straying… I mean read over Psalm 23 and reflect on it! That’s what David, the Psalmist described the Lord doing for him – in his life, everyday!
This morning I was so powerfully struck by these words in the Psalm… The Lord is MY SHEPHERD! I’m part of a “flock” but it’s personal! He knows my name – He knows my strengths, my weaknesses, and my tendencies. What He does in my life is not quite the same as what He does in yours (and yet it is the same in general terms).
Believe me, I want Him to be MY SHEPHERD! I need Him to be MY SHEPHERD! I’ll honor Him as MY SHEPHERD! If He’s MY SHEPHERD I’m confident everything will be OK!
Coffee With The Lord 