A Devo From Scot - Psalm 143

Dear Church,

I am not unfamiliar with a heavy heart and a crushed spirit. I doubt if you are either. Sadly, you don’t have to collect many birthdays in this fallen world to feel both the sting of injury and the general burden of the curse. The former can easily come by the hand of another, but often it is the result of our own folly and sin. The latter can be the accumulated weariness and heaviness of observant and engaged life in a fallen world. Together, these two monsters can wreak devastating havoc.

Psalm 143, another of David’s classics, offers several gifts for our struggle in this high-stakes chess match. I invite you to read it today, several times in fact, noticing these gifts: language to adopt, hope to accept and prayers to appoint.

Language to adopt - By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, King David offers incredible wording, vocabulary and truth that you adopt as your own. Consider how appropriate the truth expressed in this line - “the enemy has persecuted my soul.” This may be an excellent help in times of struggle. This truth can focus and fuel your prayer and perseverance. Or, “the enemy has crushed my life to the ground,” or “my spirit is overwhelmed within me.” These confessions are vulnerable and true. They can help you put words to your own heart in hard times. Which of David’s words resonate most with you right now?

Hope to accept - Even after a thousand blue skies, remembering the feeling of the sun on your face is somehow hard to recollect when the shadows and darkness roll in. David knows this and intentionally calls his own heart and soul back to the character and faithfulness of God, “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your doings; I muse on the work of Your hands…my soul longs for You, as a parched land.” David intentionally remembers to hope in God.

Prayers to appoint - There are some prayers that carry more weight than others because they strike more closely to the heart of God’s will and design. David offers several great examples that are worthy of assigning to your day. “Teach me to do your will… let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground. For the sake of Your name, revive me…” Repeating these kinds of prayers, in honest trust, can be a life-changing exercise.

As you read and reread Psalm 143, I pray these three Davidic gifts are a blessing to you on this day.

I love you church.
Scot