2-Part Harmony

 Those who know me know that when I find something that gives substance to my weary soul, I camp there! So, we are looking at Psalm 143 again today. Yesterday, in The Baser Things of Life, we looked at how open, honest, and real David was with how he felt about his life at that spot. He was rung out - boy, can we relate! But today, we're going to move down to verses 8 through 10. 

I found an interesting pattern in these three verses. David was praying for God to have a specific action. But the psalmist also had an equal action. He prayed in verse 8, let me hear of your love in the morning. but he offered an equal action - for I am trusting You. 

In verse 9, David prays for God to show me where to walk. David's action was - I have come to You in prayer. Yes, that's an action! Bringing it all to God in prayer involves a lot of action. Leaving our "it" with Him takes more intention and purpose, but we must first come - and God won't tell the caregiver that He can't help! He never plugs His ears and says, "I can't hear you!" People don't do that physically, but it sure seems like they become blind and deaf to our hearts, needs, and situations. God does not! In fact, He invites us to come over and over again. We are always welcome to come to Him in prayer. But it does still take intention and purpose...and some waiting. But He's always there. Always shows up. Always shows out.

In verse 10, David asks God to teach me to do Your will...He doesn't follow it up directly with an action, although the request itself involves an action. (do Your will) Then David puts the exclamation mark on his prayer by declaring - For YOU are my God. Period and amen! 

When we keep bringing our needs to God and meet His action with our own heart's actions, it's like singing in 2-part harmony. He gives us peace - We have to trust Him for it and then let it reign. His grace, peace, love, mercy, and fill-in-the-blank with what you need today doesn't have a boundary; it just keeps on extending into our sticky situations. None of the qualities of God has limitations. It's up to us to keep our hearts in tune and in time with Him and His word if we want to reap the benefits.

Does it ever seem like such hard work to trust Him? (Yes!) Is it a lot of work to let His peace reign? (Absolutely!) Is there work and effort involved in bringing our requests to Him in prayer? (Uh-hu!) Why are we not exempt? Don't we work enough? Lol. God's actions are eternal and powerful. But He literally cannot trust Himself for us - He won't pray for us - He can't let His peace reign in our hearts for us - because the choice is ours. 

Today, I'll remind myself that God's grace is still sufficient. My thoughts will be on how much harder it is to not trust Him, because that's intentional too. I'll be thankful that He is not afraid to walk around in my messy heart and offer peace. But today, my focus will be on accepting His peace and learning how to let it reign in the big, messy space called my heart. I will trust that He's got me covered today. I'll believe that I can trust Him for the peace, grace, and mercies (plural) I need to make it through today. I can trust Him for one more day - will you join me?

Check out one of my best-selling books - 31 Days in Psalm 31. It's a devotional taken from Psalm 31 (obviously!) - a time when David was hiding in a cave from Saul - even though he'd been anointed the next king. The social isolation of caregiving can certainly make it feel like we live in a cave, but God is there with us. And that's what this 31-day devotional is all about, exploring and discovering God in the caves of life. You can get the eBook from my shop at Buy Me A Coffee. Or the print and kindle versions are available in my Amazon Shop.