Psalm 1
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Heavenly Father,
I would like to start by thanking You for the opportunity to have an open line of communication where I can openly and freely communicate with You. You have given me so much to be thankful for, it is difficult to describe and even list but a fraction of the blessings that have been poured into my life. When I take a moment to look at the sky You created, it overwhelms me. When I research and study the intricacies of our universe, it astounds me. And when I try to even fathom the glory of your being, it silences me.
Earlier this year, I heard very clearly from You that this would be a time of testing and fire for my life. In fact, I did not hear of any set time frame for the purification and testing process that I am to go through. However, I know You will provide me with strength to go through these times.
LORD, these past few weeks have been difficult. I’ve woken up in the mornings and internally cried out to You of how very aware I am of my own shortcomings and failures. I have the most difficult time understanding how You could find anything of value in people like me. However, I do know that your Holy Word proclaims just how much You love us. You are Love. It is in this that I have confidence that You still find a person like me, broken and often full of failures, to be considered as one of your children.
It is in these times that my heart is most troubled; my mind is coming to the realization of just how little it is that I truly offer in this world. It’s frustrating for me, as I’d like to think I bring some value to the proverbial table-of-sorts. However, as I take a mental inventory of my abilities and talents, I find myself coming up with very little. It is in these times that I begin to search my spirit and wonder just how it is that I will ever come to realize the dreams I believe You have planted in my heart. It is in this moment of frustration and anguish that I realize just how little control I have.
I believe you have placed impossible dreams within my heart because they are impossible for my frail human hands to achieve on their own; only through You will they ever come to fruition. If this is to be the case, teach me how to give increasing amounts of the glory and honor to You, rather than myself.
Instill me with a humility that allows no room for selfish pride or ambition, with a spirit that desires only to give you the credit.
Help me to understand just how weak and frail my spirit is, so that I may find all of my strength and might in You!
Blind my vision and dull my mind, so that I may rely only on You for my direction and trust in your Holy Spirit to guide my very thoughts.
Overwhelm me with failures and challenges so that I may realize true success comes through your hands alone.
Take from me any wealth or earthly symbol of status, so that I may find my true identity and worth in You.
If it is your desire, put me through the fire so that I may come out, free of impurities and fashioned in the image that You have destined for me.
You have proven for thousands of years that it is in your very nature to take individuals, like Gideon and David, and shaped their lives into a reflection of your very heart. If it is possible to pray and ask for this, I would hope my life can be mastered and shaped in a similar fashion. I pray for strength to withstand the difficult days and trials, with the ability to exercise my faith and belief.
LORD – It is the desire of my heart that You – and you alone – will shape and mold me, so that I may never boast of my own accomplishments, for they are puny and laughable in sight of your creation, nor become so confident in my own ability that I, even for a second, forget to trust wholeheartedly in You.
Amen.
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