1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:07,400 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Hey Darren, Welcome to another Prayer through the 2 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:11,880 Speaker 1: Psalms episode of the Praying Christian Women podcast. I'm Jamie 3 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: and today we are going to be talking about and 4 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 1: praying through Psalm sixty four. Psalm sixty four is very 5 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:20,959 Speaker 1: similar to a lot of the Psalms of David that 6 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 1: we've heard talking about his enemies. We hear tons about 7 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: David's enemies because he had a lot of them, and 8 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 1: they were always trying to destroy him, or find him, 9 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:34,480 Speaker 1: or surround him or slander him one of many many 10 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:37,319 Speaker 1: things he does talk about his enemies. But the thing 11 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:40,360 Speaker 1: that sets this psalm apart from some of the others 12 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 1: and really got me thinking, is that this psalm involves 13 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:50,159 Speaker 1: people who are plotting evil. They have evil thoughts, evil words, 14 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 1: evil actions. They're setting traps that they are convinced will 15 00:00:54,880 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 1: remain secret. And it got me thinking about justice, about 16 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 1: how frustrated I can get when I see injustice happening, 17 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 1: or when I see people getting away with things that 18 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 1: I don't feel like they should be getting away with 19 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: that I might know the truth about something and it 20 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 1: ends up not being exposed or not being believed by 21 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:17,400 Speaker 1: the people that need to believe it. So, for instance, 22 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 1: this week on Monday, Alana and I had a True 23 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 1: Crime Junkies episode, which, if you don't know, we have 24 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:29,760 Speaker 1: another podcast called Christian True Crime Junkies. And we had 25 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 1: an episode and it involved a young woman who was 26 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 1: abused as a teenager, went to the authorities and was 27 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:40,039 Speaker 1: not believed, and so she ended up being sent back 28 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 1: to her original situation being abused, only with a very 29 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 1: angry abuser. That is not justice. That is insanity. And 30 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 1: it happens in the world, and it makes us angry, 31 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 1: and it gets our Mama bear all up in arms, right, 32 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 1: and sometimes it can drive us to feel angry with 33 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:06,560 Speaker 1: God or hopeless or helpless or confused, or even questioning 34 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 1: whether God exists, or worse yet, if he exists but 35 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 1: doesn't care, And all of those things are part of 36 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 1: the human condition. And I just felt like someone might 37 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 1: need to hear this today. I read this psalm and 38 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: it gave me new eyes in regards to justice. So 39 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,240 Speaker 1: the language I used to use when I was referring 40 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:31,399 Speaker 1: to justice is we might not see God's justice unfold 41 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:37,359 Speaker 1: here on earth because this world is temporary, and ultimately 42 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 1: justice will be done because God is the ultimate judge, 43 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: and there is going to be a judgment and everything's 44 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: going to be made right. And so I kind of 45 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:51,680 Speaker 1: held this hopeful not yet, but at some point, you know, 46 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: we're going to be able to It was a hope 47 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:57,519 Speaker 1: in what might happen in the future, what will happen 48 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 1: in the future. But as I read this, it reminded 49 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 1: me of a time when I was little and we 50 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:05,840 Speaker 1: had this little hill on the side of our house. 51 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:09,079 Speaker 1: It seemed much bigger when I was little, and if 52 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:11,239 Speaker 1: you ran around the corner, there was like kind of 53 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 1: a jutting out chimney, and we had a brick home, 54 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 1: so the chimney was brick and it jutted out. So 55 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 1: if you went on the other side of the chimney 56 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 1: and kind of hid in the little corner that it made, 57 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:26,080 Speaker 1: it was a great hide and seek place. But I 58 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:28,679 Speaker 1: have a very vivid memory of being a child having 59 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:30,640 Speaker 1: done something wrong. I don't remember what it was, but 60 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 1: I had this thought that I was going to go 61 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: around the corner there and hide from God. And it's 62 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:38,839 Speaker 1: just kind of a silly memory, you know. I don't 63 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 1: even remember what I did to want to hide from God, 64 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 1: but it just is a very obvious object lesson that 65 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 1: you can't hide from God. Obviously hiding around the corner. 66 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 1: I'm not going to hide from God. But even if 67 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: evildoers that are mentioned in this psalm, even if they 68 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 1: make secret plots and secret plans, lay secret traps, they 69 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 1: think secret thoughts, they're doing evil things in secret, even 70 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:12,839 Speaker 1: if those plans are never exposed in our space time continuum, 71 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 1: our finite timeline within God's creation and the confines of 72 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: it that we need to live by as humans, even 73 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 1: if it's not exposed, then there is a different place 74 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 1: where God resides. And we talk about it all the 75 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 1: time when we talk about spiritual warfare. We talk about 76 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:34,040 Speaker 1: how there's this veil right of between the material world 77 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 1: that we see, touch, taste here and the spiritual reality 78 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 1: that lies beyond where the spiritual battle is taking place, 79 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 1: and that reality where there are principalities and angels and 80 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 1: demons fighting and prayers going up that are literally fueling 81 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 1: God's work in some mysterious way that we can't imagine 82 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 1: that that exists apart from what we can see, what 83 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 1: we can hear, what we can feel in this world, 84 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:10,360 Speaker 1: and those things are going on in a different place. 85 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 1: So the Bible says, to God, a day is like 86 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 1: a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day. 87 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:18,080 Speaker 1: And at the very least, God exists in a place 88 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 1: where time is not the same. God doesn't perceive time 89 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 1: in the same way as we perceive it. And at 90 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 1: the same time, he's living in us. The Holy Spirit 91 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 1: is living in us. And part of this frame by 92 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 1: frame experience of time, the moment by moment timeline that's 93 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 1: ticking by every second. Right, God is with us too 94 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:45,880 Speaker 1: experiencing this. But His essence and reality exist outside of 95 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 1: time as we know it. And so what I realized 96 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 1: kind of bring it back, I know, going off on 97 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 1: a rabbit trail, but to bring it back what I 98 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:58,280 Speaker 1: experienced through reading this is we don't have to wait 99 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:04,360 Speaker 1: until we die to experienced God's justice, because God is justice, 100 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 1: and he is living in us, and he is accomplishing 101 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:13,039 Speaker 1: things in the heavenly realms, in the spiritual realm already. 102 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 1: It has already been done. And an example of this 103 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 1: is when the Bible talks about Jesus, the Lamb of God, 104 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 1: who is slain from the foundations of the earth, and 105 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 1: you think, how could the Lamb of God have been 106 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:29,599 Speaker 1: slain from the foundations of the earth if he dropped 107 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 1: down into our timeline in around zero, you know, or 108 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: one ad or whatever. I don't know how they actually think, 109 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 1: you know, how they make that work. But in our 110 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: timeline he existed as a human with flesh and blood, 111 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:47,600 Speaker 1: and he walked with the disciples, and he taught, and 112 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 1: he suffered a brutal beating and flogging, and he died 113 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 1: a terrible death that was full of shame, and there 114 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 1: were spectators and it was ugly, and he died, and 115 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:02,080 Speaker 1: this was all real, and he was buried in a 116 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 1: physical place, and he rose from the dead. And how 117 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:09,039 Speaker 1: can the Lamb of God have been slain from the 118 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 1: foundations of the earth and still have walked this timeline? 119 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 1: And I'm going to read a passage from Hebrews that 120 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 1: I think will make this more clear. Hebrews eight, verses 121 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:23,040 Speaker 1: three through six. Every high priest is appointed to offer 122 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for 123 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 1: this one also to have something to offer. If he 124 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 1: were on earth, he would not be a priest, for 125 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 1: there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by 126 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 1: the law. And here we go, they serve at a 127 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 1: sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is 128 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 1: in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he 129 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: was about to build the tabernacle, see to it that 130 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 1: you make everything according to the pattern shown you on 131 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 1: the mountain. Okay, so that was three through five. That 132 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:57,120 Speaker 1: is amazing to me. That is mysterious and exciting to 133 00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 1: me that this tavern it was built to such specific 134 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 1: design because when something in that tabernacle happened on Earth, 135 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:13,360 Speaker 1: it was also happening in heaven. There's a tabernacle in heaven. 136 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 1: Like this is amazing to me because if you look 137 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 1: at Heaven as just this generic like, oh, we all 138 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:22,400 Speaker 1: just kind of go back to the source, the Creator, 139 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 1: and yeah, we're just there. There's stuff happening, Like it's 140 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 1: not just this whole spiritual mishmash of goodness and light. 141 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 1: There are things happening. What is on this earth is 142 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 1: not Heaven. We know that, right. It might be a 143 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:42,199 Speaker 1: little bit of hell in some places, but there is 144 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:45,560 Speaker 1: a shadow of Heaven on earth. And there are things 145 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 1: when they happen on Earth that have cosmic, eternal, heavenly consequences. 146 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:55,320 Speaker 1: And I believe that jesus death and resurrection were just 147 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 1: like this. I mean obviously right. If he was the 148 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:00,680 Speaker 1: lamb who was slain from the foundation of the earth, 149 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 1: then what he did here on earth. If anyone's actions 150 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:10,840 Speaker 1: on Earth had cosmic, eternal, heavenly parallels, obviously Jesus would have. 151 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:15,079 Speaker 1: And I think that's how it happened. When justice doesn't 152 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 1: look like it's happening here on earth, it doesn't mean 153 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 1: it's not happening here on earth. That there is a 154 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:27,320 Speaker 1: cosmic reality that is going on, and what we see 155 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:30,400 Speaker 1: here is just a shadow. And even when we see 156 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 1: glimpses of the spiritual battle happening and evidence of our 157 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 1: prayers working, and that's just the tip of a gigantic 158 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 1: iceberg of God's work, and it's done, like according to God, 159 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 1: if we were to pop out of our timeline into 160 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:51,959 Speaker 1: where God is, which is present all around us, it 161 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:55,920 Speaker 1: is finished. It's not yet to be. And I know 162 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 1: that someone needed to hear this, and that someone is 163 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 1: struggling and wrestling with God right now about something that's 164 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 1: very unjust and very unfair and very unsettling and evil 165 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:11,720 Speaker 1: that is not being held accountable. You can be sure 166 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 1: that justice is because God is He's I am, not 167 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 1: I will be when you get to heaven. I am. 168 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 1: That is who our God is. And I just have 169 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 1: to tell you don't lose heart. And we can pray 170 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:30,560 Speaker 1: for those glimpses. I pray that when I am weak 171 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:33,560 Speaker 1: in my faith, give me a glimpse. God, give me 172 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 1: a rope, a lifeline to hold on too, so that 173 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 1: I can just be reminded that you are and that 174 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:41,959 Speaker 1: I don't have to wait until I die to experience 175 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:45,960 Speaker 1: that justice and that goodness and that healing and resolution, 176 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:49,599 Speaker 1: but that you are now all right. I want to 177 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 1: open us up with some prayer before we get into 178 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:55,560 Speaker 1: our psalm. If you can believe that we haven't gotten 179 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 1: there yet, I want to flip the script for our 180 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 1: time of prayer. And while many of us can relate 181 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:08,440 Speaker 1: to this idea that justice needs to happen, and we 182 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:11,240 Speaker 1: can take tremendous comfort in knowing that there is a 183 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 1: God of justice who sees justice served, it can also 184 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:21,560 Speaker 1: be terrifying because we are not perfect. If you know Jesus, 185 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 1: then you know that when you place your faith in Jesus, 186 00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:29,320 Speaker 1: he paid the penalty for any sins that you've committed. 187 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:31,320 Speaker 1: That you're committing right now that you will commit in 188 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 1: the future. It is finished, it is paid, the price 189 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:36,840 Speaker 1: is paid, and we have freedom from the bondage of sin. 190 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 1: It doesn't mean we're perfect, but we can fix our 191 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 1: eyes on Jesus and throw off the sin that so 192 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 1: easily entangles us and ensnares us and holds us back 193 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:49,400 Speaker 1: from God's best for us. But if right now you 194 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 1: don't know that, right now you are somehow you stumbled 195 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:56,840 Speaker 1: upon this and you don't know Jesus, and you're terrified 196 00:11:56,840 --> 00:11:59,640 Speaker 1: at the thought of a just God, and you're terrified 197 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:02,200 Speaker 1: of if you died today, what would meet you on 198 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 1: the other side, then I am here to tell you 199 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 1: that God has made away for you to become right 200 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 1: with Him, no matter what your past is, no matter 201 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 1: what your present is, no matter what you think your 202 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:20,200 Speaker 1: future might look like. Because of the consequences of the 203 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:22,640 Speaker 1: sin in your life up to this point, He has 204 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 1: made away for you to be right with Him, and 205 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 1: that is to place your faith in Jesus. So I'm 206 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 1: going to do two things during our prayer time right 207 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:32,680 Speaker 1: now as we prepare to read this Psalm. Thing one 208 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 1: is I'm going to model a prayer for you if 209 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 1: you're listening and you don't know Jesus or you know 210 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: who he is. You know about him, but you're not 211 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 1: convinced that if you died today that you would meet 212 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:48,080 Speaker 1: Jesus and that you would be with God, and that 213 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 1: there wouldn't be punishment in store for you. I want 214 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:53,840 Speaker 1: to model a prayer if you want to just pray 215 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: along with me, or listen and then create your own 216 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:00,320 Speaker 1: version as you hit pause, however you want to do it. 217 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:03,560 Speaker 1: I want to provide a way because God is just, 218 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 1: and there is punishment for sin, and there is separation 219 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:13,320 Speaker 1: from God that is very real and very unfortunate. But 220 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:16,559 Speaker 1: God has made away that anyone who calls on the 221 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 1: name of the Lord will be saved. So I want 222 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:22,600 Speaker 1: to provide that for you and then for everyone listening. 223 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:25,560 Speaker 1: I would like to just have a moment to focus 224 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 1: on some confession and repentance. So let's pray, Father God. 225 00:13:44,679 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 1: I know I am a sinner. I know that there 226 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:53,200 Speaker 1: is nothing I can do to work my way into heaven. 227 00:13:55,559 --> 00:13:58,200 Speaker 1: The Bible tells us that all of our righteous acts 228 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:06,600 Speaker 1: are like filthy rags. And yet you have made away. Lord. 229 00:14:06,679 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 1: I acknowledge that you sent your son Jesus Christ, to 230 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 1: live an actual life in space, time, to walk the earth, 231 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 1: to reflect your perfect image to people who desperately needed 232 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 1: good news, to teach, to model with his own life 233 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 1: how you want us to live. And I believe that 234 00:14:37,920 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 1: you sent your son so that none should perish but 235 00:14:42,840 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 1: have eternal life. Lord, I accept the gift of salvation. 236 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:57,840 Speaker 1: I place my faith in Jesus. I am sorry for 237 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 1: missing the mark. I'm sorry for sinning against you, and 238 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 1: I choose to turn from that sin and cling to 239 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:11,360 Speaker 1: Jesus instead because I know his ways are better. Your 240 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 1: way is better. And I place my faith in Jesus 241 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 1: and I receive the forgiveness for my sins. Amen, and Lord. 242 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 1: We just come before you knowing that there are things 243 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 1: in our lives. There are thoughts, there are words, there 244 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:41,000 Speaker 1: are actions, there are plans, there are attitudes, emotions. There 245 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 1: are things that separate us from you because they're not holy, 246 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 1: and they're not perfect, and sometimes they're downright evil. Lord. 247 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 1: I just pray that you would bring those things to 248 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 1: our minds, and that as they bubble up to the surface, 249 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 1: that instead of a sorrow that leads to death, a 250 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 1: hopeless sorrow, a wallowing in self pity and self loathing 251 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 1: that could happen when faced with our sinfulness and imperfection. 252 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:29,479 Speaker 1: Instead of that, that you would give us that beautiful 253 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 1: sorrow that leads to repentance and life, because repentance is 254 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 1: turning away from that sin. It's rejecting it, it's shedding it, 255 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 1: it's allowing it to fall away like scales from the 256 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 1: eyes of the one that Jesus healed, so that we 257 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:58,880 Speaker 1: can see clearly, so that we may fix our eyes 258 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 1: on Jesus, author and perfector of our faith, so that 259 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 1: we could run the race with perseverance and throw off 260 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:15,439 Speaker 1: the chains that keep us bound to our sin and 261 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:23,000 Speaker 1: to our human fallacies. We thank you for that hope, 262 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:28,719 Speaker 1: and we just pray that repentance would be a lifestyle 263 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:32,479 Speaker 1: that throughout the week you would just be reminding us 264 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:34,840 Speaker 1: of things that you'd be stopping us in our tracks 265 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:38,120 Speaker 1: when we have an evil thought or even just kind 266 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:43,000 Speaker 1: of a lame thought anywhere on the spectrum of sin. God, 267 00:17:43,040 --> 00:17:45,960 Speaker 1: convict us, stop us in our tracks, help us to 268 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:48,639 Speaker 1: be able to take all of those thoughts captive before 269 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:56,199 Speaker 1: they become words and actions and plans and plots. And 270 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:58,679 Speaker 1: we just pray that you would help us to see 271 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:05,840 Speaker 1: clearly to live well and to walk in the plans 272 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:10,120 Speaker 1: that You have for us, not just for our own 273 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:15,560 Speaker 1: benefit and our own glory, but for Your glory and 274 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:20,320 Speaker 1: for the benefit of the world and the Gospel, and 275 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:28,199 Speaker 1: that those things can live together. That Christian hedonism, like 276 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:34,159 Speaker 1: in desiring, desiring God, that we would be able to 277 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 1: revel in goodness and joy and relationship with You, That 278 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:43,960 Speaker 1: that would be the driving force behind our actions, behind 279 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:50,359 Speaker 1: our choosing Jesus over sin, because it is good. Amen. 280 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 1: All right, let's read this psalm finally right. Psalm sixty 281 00:18:56,760 --> 00:19:00,240 Speaker 1: four from the Nasby nineteen ninety five, Prayer for delivers 282 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 1: from secret enemies for the choir director, a psalm of David. 283 00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:08,879 Speaker 1: Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint, preserve my 284 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 1: life from dread of the enemy, Hide me from the 285 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 1: secret counsel of evildoers, from the tumult of those who 286 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:18,720 Speaker 1: do iniquity, who have sharpened their tongue like a sword. 287 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 1: They aimed bitter speech as their arrow to shoot from 288 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:26,760 Speaker 1: concealment at the blameless. Suddenly they shoot at him and 289 00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:30,440 Speaker 1: do not fear. They hold fast to themselves an evil purpose. 290 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:34,320 Speaker 1: They talk of laying snares secretly, they say, who can 291 00:19:34,359 --> 00:19:38,119 Speaker 1: see them. They devise injustices, saying, we are ready with 292 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:41,440 Speaker 1: a well conceived plot for the inward thought and heart 293 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:44,479 Speaker 1: of man are deep. But God will shoot at them 294 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:47,639 Speaker 1: with an arrow. Suddenly they will be wounded, so they 295 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:51,000 Speaker 1: will make him stumble. Their own tongue is against them. 296 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 1: All who see them will shake their head. Then all 297 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:57,320 Speaker 1: men will fear, and they will declare the work of God, 298 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:00,720 Speaker 1: and will consider what he has done. The righteous man 299 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:02,720 Speaker 1: will be glad in the Lord, and we'll take refuge 300 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:08,800 Speaker 1: in him, and all the upright and heart will glory. Amen. David, 301 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 1: just right off the bat, hear my voice, O God, 302 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:14,800 Speaker 1: in my complaint. I mean, he's just very real about 303 00:20:14,800 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 1: the fact that he can go to God and complain. 304 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:20,439 Speaker 1: And I was doing this in the car on the 305 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:25,160 Speaker 1: way home from running some errands today. I was literally complaining. 306 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:29,159 Speaker 1: I was just saying, God, I got to complain, and 307 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 1: I know that I can because you are my loving Father, 308 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:36,679 Speaker 1: and I can complain to you and you will just 309 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:41,919 Speaker 1: listen and sometimes you'll talk back. But I know that 310 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:47,280 Speaker 1: He will always be at work in my conversation with him. 311 00:20:47,560 --> 00:20:52,320 Speaker 1: So even as I was complaining, I felt almost like 312 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:55,399 Speaker 1: like I was running my thoughts through a filter and 313 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:58,960 Speaker 1: they were coming back to me better. So as I 314 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:04,240 Speaker 1: was complaining, as I was laying out my SOB stories, whatever, 315 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: it was like God took them, process them through this filter. 316 00:21:09,119 --> 00:21:11,199 Speaker 1: Maybe it's like that, take captive every thought and make 317 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:14,600 Speaker 1: it obedient to Christ. God is the filter. And so 318 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:17,080 Speaker 1: as I was running my complaints through God, they came 319 00:21:17,119 --> 00:21:21,159 Speaker 1: back to me and I legitimately I didn't even have 320 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:24,480 Speaker 1: to fake it. I came back with joy and Thanksgiving 321 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 1: and it was beautiful. So I love it. I love 322 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:30,920 Speaker 1: the permission. And one of the big reasons I did 323 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:33,919 Speaker 1: use that word complain was because of this psalm. And 324 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:36,639 Speaker 1: one of my complaints was I've recorded this like five times, 325 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 1: I'm not kidding you, and it's different. Things have happened, 326 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:44,240 Speaker 1: and so I was kind of complaining about that among 327 00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:46,919 Speaker 1: other things. But you know what I was, I just 328 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:50,439 Speaker 1: was brought back to Thanksgiving. Thank you, God, Thank you, 329 00:21:51,119 --> 00:21:53,960 Speaker 1: Because if I've recorded this five times, I've read this 330 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 1: Psalm five times, and I've meditated on it five times, 331 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:01,040 Speaker 1: and that is good. Maybe I needed more scripture in 332 00:22:01,080 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 1: my life. And I also love down here as we 333 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:08,960 Speaker 1: go down. It's these enemies are not surrounding him trying 334 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:12,320 Speaker 1: to kill him. These enemies have sharpened their tongue like 335 00:22:12,359 --> 00:22:15,960 Speaker 1: a sword. They've bitter speech is their arrow. David knew 336 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:19,399 Speaker 1: what it was like to fear real weapons and real death. 337 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:22,720 Speaker 1: But this is a different kind of fear. He says, 338 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:25,960 Speaker 1: preserve my life from dread of the enemy. It's not 339 00:22:26,600 --> 00:22:31,240 Speaker 1: preserve my life from being killed. It's when we fear 340 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:35,119 Speaker 1: and dread our enemy, whether it's an actual enemy, whether 341 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:39,119 Speaker 1: it's spiritual warfare enemy, whether it's something standing in the 342 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:42,040 Speaker 1: way of us and something we believe God has for us, 343 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:46,480 Speaker 1: whatever that is, maybe it's an illness or impending doom 344 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:51,159 Speaker 1: for no reason, whatever it is, that dread is real, 345 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:55,520 Speaker 1: and sometimes it's more real than the actual threat. And 346 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:58,120 Speaker 1: I speak from experience, and many of you have heard 347 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:02,639 Speaker 1: me talk about this, that the dread and the fear 348 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:06,359 Speaker 1: and the anxiety that is caused is a lot of 349 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:10,960 Speaker 1: times it's worse than the actual reality. And one of 350 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:14,000 Speaker 1: the reasons is that I have found is that when 351 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:18,399 Speaker 1: I'm worrying and I'm anxious and I'm dreading something, I'm 352 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:23,520 Speaker 1: actually picturing something down the line. But it's devoid of God. 353 00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:27,440 Speaker 1: God isn't in it. I'm not picturing myself relying on God. 354 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:29,960 Speaker 1: I'm picturing that thing happening, and it's scary to me. 355 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:32,800 Speaker 1: But what I'm forgetting is God is in it. So 356 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:36,080 Speaker 1: I think what David's saying here is preserve my life 357 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:41,960 Speaker 1: from being afraid, because what that's doing is preserve my 358 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:45,280 Speaker 1: life from forgetting You're with me, and you're the biggest, 359 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:49,000 Speaker 1: baddest dad out there. There's nothing that can stand against 360 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:53,399 Speaker 1: me when my God, my Father is standing behind me 361 00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 1: and fighting for me. And then we get to the 362 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:59,600 Speaker 1: part that I waxed poetic on for so long, the 363 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:04,880 Speaker 1: enemies laying snares, secretly saying who can see these plans 364 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:08,360 Speaker 1: they devise injustices, saying we're ready with a well conceived 365 00:24:08,359 --> 00:24:10,560 Speaker 1: plot for the inward thought and the heart of man 366 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:14,080 Speaker 1: are deep. But guess what, not deep enough for God 367 00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:18,000 Speaker 1: to be able to discern, not big enough for God 368 00:24:18,440 --> 00:24:21,000 Speaker 1: to be able to draw out what is in the 369 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:24,960 Speaker 1: wickedness of a man's heart and mind. And so this 370 00:24:25,119 --> 00:24:30,320 Speaker 1: is that whole piece of the puzzle of nothing will 371 00:24:30,359 --> 00:24:34,439 Speaker 1: remain hidden. And what the Bible actually tells us is 372 00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:40,320 Speaker 1: that even that which is exposed by light becomes light. 373 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:44,480 Speaker 1: And I think that's a picture of the beautiful, redeeming 374 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:48,320 Speaker 1: nature of God, that he takes even the worst, and 375 00:24:48,359 --> 00:24:54,400 Speaker 1: when it's exposed, it can't remain dark. And I love this. 376 00:24:54,760 --> 00:24:57,320 Speaker 1: I love this about God, that he is a redeemer. 377 00:24:57,960 --> 00:25:00,800 Speaker 1: And it goes on. My very favorite thing is the 378 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:03,760 Speaker 1: first verses one through six are all about the problem 379 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:08,200 Speaker 1: and the wickedness, and then seven begins with two words 380 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:11,639 Speaker 1: that I just want to be my mantra. But God, 381 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 1: anything that you can complain about, anything you can be 382 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:17,840 Speaker 1: afraid of, lay it out there, write it in your journal, 383 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:20,600 Speaker 1: say it to God. And then but after it, all 384 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:24,320 Speaker 1: you got to put is but God. But God, I 385 00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:28,119 Speaker 1: am not, I will be not. Hang on, hang on, 386 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:31,199 Speaker 1: I'll get to you in a little bit. No, he is, 387 00:25:32,040 --> 00:25:36,240 Speaker 1: He is justice, he is goodness, He is a giver 388 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:40,320 Speaker 1: of good gifts. Now not leader. And that is what 389 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:42,840 Speaker 1: I love. And then he says, but God will shoot 390 00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:45,000 Speaker 1: them with an arrow. Suddenly they'll be wounded. It's like 391 00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:49,400 Speaker 1: that same arrow that they try shooting, that bitter speech 392 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 1: aimed as their arrow, God deflects it back. And I 393 00:25:53,119 --> 00:25:55,840 Speaker 1: know it's kind of juvenile, but it makes me think 394 00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:58,679 Speaker 1: of I am rubber and you are glue. Whatever you 395 00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:03,439 Speaker 1: say bounces off me and sticks to you. That's what 396 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:07,480 Speaker 1: it is. God. God takes the plans and the plots 397 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:10,480 Speaker 1: of the enemy. He exposes them, and then he turns 398 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:14,320 Speaker 1: it around against them. And we might see it in 399 00:26:14,359 --> 00:26:17,159 Speaker 1: the land of the living here on earth, but we 400 00:26:17,280 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 1: might not. But we have to picture. If it helps 401 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:26,480 Speaker 1: you to picture your enemies, your problems, your worries, your giants, 402 00:26:26,640 --> 00:26:30,800 Speaker 1: if it helps to picture them beyond this veil that 403 00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:34,520 Speaker 1: we can see as an arrow, and then just picture 404 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:37,679 Speaker 1: God grabbing at mid air, turning it around and sending 405 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:45,720 Speaker 1: it back. Because it's happening, it is real. He is not, 406 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:51,160 Speaker 1: he will be. He is. And after the butt God, 407 00:26:51,280 --> 00:26:57,280 Speaker 1: it's saying, God is going to display his justice in 408 00:26:57,320 --> 00:27:04,000 Speaker 1: a way that makes everyone shake and tremble and declare 409 00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:07,399 Speaker 1: the work of God, and consider what he is doing 410 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:10,320 Speaker 1: and what he has done. And then we will be 411 00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:13,679 Speaker 1: glad and we will take refuge in him. Because he 412 00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:18,679 Speaker 1: is terrible, he is mighty, he is dangerous, but he 413 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:23,760 Speaker 1: is ours and we are his. And if you prayed 414 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:29,680 Speaker 1: that prayer earlier, you are his. There is nothing nothing 415 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:35,280 Speaker 1: not in heaven not on earth, not in hell. There 416 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:41,000 Speaker 1: are no evil forces anywhere that can snatch you out 417 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:47,200 Speaker 1: of his grip because you belong to him. Let's pray, 418 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:54,119 Speaker 1: Oh God, we just give you so much thanks and 419 00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:59,840 Speaker 1: praise for being our rescuer. While we were still sinners. 420 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:07,479 Speaker 1: Christ died for us. I have been crucified with Christ, 421 00:28:07,640 --> 00:28:10,240 Speaker 1: and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. 422 00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:12,479 Speaker 1: The life I live in the body. I live by 423 00:28:12,520 --> 00:28:14,679 Speaker 1: faith in the Son of God, who loves me and 424 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:19,639 Speaker 1: gave himself for me. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, 425 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:22,560 Speaker 1: he is a new creation. The old has gone, the 426 00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:33,399 Speaker 1: new has come. Praise God. We thank you that we 427 00:28:33,520 --> 00:28:39,600 Speaker 1: can take refuge in you, and we thank you and 428 00:28:39,680 --> 00:28:43,880 Speaker 1: praise you that you are the great I am, not 429 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:46,960 Speaker 1: that I will be or the Hold on a minute 430 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:50,920 Speaker 1: and I'll get back to you. We claim that Lord, 431 00:28:51,760 --> 00:29:00,960 Speaker 1: you are good, You are just, You are loving, You 432 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:15,120 Speaker 1: are the giver of good gifts, your kindness, and we 433 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:19,920 Speaker 1: cling to that when things seem hard, when things seem 434 00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:25,800 Speaker 1: unfair and unjust, when things seem evil and rotten and ugly, 435 00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:32,080 Speaker 1: when we feel unloved and unseen, we can counter those 436 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:37,440 Speaker 1: things with the knowledge of who you are now reveal 437 00:29:37,480 --> 00:29:39,920 Speaker 1: yourself to us. Lord, take the blinders off of us. 438 00:29:41,760 --> 00:29:44,640 Speaker 1: Help us to see past the lies and the deception 439 00:29:44,720 --> 00:29:48,320 Speaker 1: of the enemy that would keep us bound in places 440 00:29:48,360 --> 00:29:55,200 Speaker 1: of anger against you, bitterness against the world, sorrow and despair, 441 00:29:56,120 --> 00:30:02,840 Speaker 1: self loathing. Break the chain. Help us to walk in 442 00:30:02,920 --> 00:30:06,719 Speaker 1: freedom and with clear vision, and with open hearts and ears, 443 00:30:06,720 --> 00:30:09,600 Speaker 1: to hear your voice and to receive you in your son, 444 00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:16,440 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ. Amen. We'd like to take just a quick 445 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:18,680 Speaker 1: second to thank the team at life Audio for their 446 00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:21,400 Speaker 1: partnership with us on the podcast. If you get a 447 00:30:21,480 --> 00:30:24,480 Speaker 1: lifeaudio dot com you will find dozens of other faith 448 00:30:24,560 --> 00:30:27,560 Speaker 1: centered podcasts in their network. They've got shows about prayer, 449 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:36,320 Speaker 1: Bible study, parenting, and so much more. That's lifeaudio dot Com.