Psalm 19

Are Your Prayers Plugged into the Power Source? Psalm 19

/ Anthea Kotlan / 3 Comments

(A plug is being plugged into a wall power outlet.)

Sometimes when the power goes out at my house, I have a terrible habit of continuously trying to turn the lights on. Then, as I move about the house and get busy working on other things, I forget about the lack of electricity. I keep doing this repeated action and almost seemed surprised by the outcome every single time.  

If I decided to stand in my kitchen and keep flipping the light switch on in a “try harder attempt” to overcome that lack of electrical current flowing into my home, most observers would be concerned for my sanity. No amount of turning on the light will cause the bulb to be illuminated without access to electricity.  

Sometimes my approach to prayer can look a great deal like this exercise in futility. I pray, but I get distracted, confused, concerned, and defeated. How often am I simply approaching prayer with little preparation?  

Are my prayers plugged into the power source God has provided? In my case, not always. If I am being honest, not very often at all. I want to complete my prayer tasks rapidly in the name of efficiency. I want to move through a list of requests and check them off. And yet I struggle… 

So, what is the power source?  

Before I can plug into God’s powerful provision, I need to review some basic communication principles. Prayer is, after all, my communication with God. So how does God speak to His people? How do I hear from Him? 

Psalm 19 points to one way God speaks: through his glorious creation.  

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 
2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 
3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 
5     It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 
6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth. 
Psalm 19:1-6 NIV

In His kindness, God also speaks through the Bible.   

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, 
    making wise the simple. 
8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 
9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. 
10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 
Psalm 19:7-10 NIV

Every sunset, sunrise, mountain vista, or starry sky speaks volumes for God and His character. God reveals Himself in the world He placed His people in. If I choose to notice, I can take in God’s stunning creation every single day. 

In His kindness, God also speaks through the Bible.  

God’s word provides warnings, guidance, and soul nourishment. It refreshes the soul. Since He created me, He knows exactly what my limitations are. God knows what I need and what would be best for me to avoid. The Bible overflows with gifts for me, but I must open them. Also, and perhaps the part I have so often missed, I must take time to meditate on God’s word.  

Sadly, the secular world has hijacked the notion of meditation and perverted it into something to avoid at all costs. While Eastern meditation practices are not tools for me to use, the practice of meditation itself is neutral. It all depends on the focus of my meditating mind. Spending time focusing on God and His word is a way for me to tend my soul and plug into the power source God has provided. Taking time out of my busy schedule to sit and dwell in God’s presence as I read or listen to His word provides a needed reset.  

11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 
12 But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. 
Psalm 19:11-13 NIV

Focused time in God’s word can keep me on track with His will and serve as a warning when I go off course. God’s word brings ongoing transformation.  

14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. 
Psalm 19:14 NIV

This final verse from Psalm 19 is a pattern for powerful prayer. Donald S. Whitney, in his book on spiritual disciplines, explains, “…meditation was a catalyst that catapulted David (the author this Psalm 19) from the truth of God into talking with God.” Taking time to process the input of God’s word steeps my heart and mind with His presence. Continually repeating this process with a daily intake of scripture begins to change me from the inside out. My prayers will transform because I will want what God wants. My mind will shift because I will think about what God thinks about. My heart will change, and I will enjoy what God wants.  

The psalms can provide an ideal starting point for meditation that leads into prayer. Each psalm provides both a focus for meditation and a written prayer. For example, read Psalm 19 to begin and ask the Holy Spirit to highlight one verse or phrase.

Ways to Meditate on Scripture

  • Read the psalm a second or third or fourth time 
  • Read the psalm in different versions of the Bible 
  • Listen to someone else read it to you 
  • Look for a song that features the passage of scripture you chose 
  • Try drawing a picture or painting something from the psalm 
  • Read each line, pausing and listening for God to speak between each one 
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to show you something fresh and new hidden in the text  

 

Prayers prayed after a meditation time will be more focused and have greater clarity. This exercise will increase confidence in prayer. My heart is instructed by the truths found in scripture.  

How about you? Do you meditate on scripture before you pray? What passages of scripture do you use? I would love to hear about your experiences.  

During Lent 2022, I’m writing about one spiritual discipline each week. What kinds of spiritual disciplines are you taking on this season?

God Loves a Fixer-Upper – Psalm 19:10-14

/ Anthea Kotlan / Leave a comment
(House graphic)

The Fixer Upper Formula

Next time you watch a show featuring home or garden renovation, look for this universal formula to play out.

          First, the family and the crew meet in the backyard or at the house, cast a vision, and get guidance on what they want, what they value, and how much it will cost.

          Second, a hidden fault will be revealed just as the work starts. There is always something that no one saw at the beginning that threatens to hijack the entire project. The good news is that there will always be a creative solution. But in the meantime, we will all be on the edge of our seats to see if, once again, the team will overcome what no one saw coming.

         Third, the grand reveal introduced the family to a transformed space. Everything has been made new and done in a way that will last and be sustainable.

How does God bring renovation to our lives?

God uses His word to begin a transformation in each of our hearts. First, He wants us to see how valuable change can be. Then, using vivid imagery, God reveals that His word is a treasure.

Have you ever asked the Lord for a vision for your life?

10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

(Psalm 19:10-11 ESV)

God’s word is beneficial in short-term ways. Money or gold can be spent on whatever is needed. Honey can be eaten or used medicinally immediately. By contrast, Verse 11 points to the long-term benefits of listening and obeying God’s word. Notice the promise tucked in here, “there is great reward.”

12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.

13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
(Psalm 19:12-13 ESV)

The case of the rotten support beams

On a recent home makeover show, the crew discovered critical support beams were rotted inside the concrete. The rotten wood was concealed until the time was spent in a very close inspection.  Some of the concrete had to be chipped away to reveal the state of these beams. If left in place, the balcony would have collapsed. The problem with hidden faults is that they are hidden. Spending regular time alone with God, focused on hearing from Him, is a pathway toward discovering secret sins. Sometimes praying for the Holy Spirit reveals what we can’t see by ourselves.

A Heart Inspection

Have you set aside time recently for a heart inspection with your Heavenly Father?

Finally, the “big reveal” day comes on the renovation show, and the changes are displayed. Fresh flowers and candles are added to make a clear outward sign of all the work done behind the scenes.

An Authentic Renovation

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.  
 (Psalm 19:14 ESV)

An actual heart renovation is revealed by what I say, how I think, and what I care about and value. These are the visible signs of all that has been changed within. We are walking about as living evidence of what God is doing to transform us daily.

Do the words of your mouth and how you spend your time and talent reveal God’s priorities?

As humans, we a drawn to the idea of renewal because it positions hope within reach. On television, it is all about the talented crew’s hard work. Spiritual transformation works from the inside out and can only be accomplished by God, but He desires our partnership.

A Prayer for Personal Renovation

Lord, thank you that you long to transform with the ultimate makeover to restore hope, reveal hidden problems, and support sustainable growth and change. Please show me how to begin that work today. Amen.

This is the third post in a series on Psalm 19. Check out these two post links if you want to read more.

Sunrise Sightings of the Kingdom of God

https://wordpress.com/post/antheakotlan.com/445

Does Your parched soul need some spiritual drip irrigation?

https://wordpress.com/post/antheakotlan.com/454

Does your parched soul need some spiritual drip irrigation? Psalm 19:7-9

/ Anthea Kotlan / 2 Comments

An English Rose Garden

In the middle of the 1970s, my Welsh-born father brought our family from England to Texas. After purchasing a modest home in the Spring Branch area, he created an English Rose Garden. Popular gardening wisdom warned him that this might be impossible, but he took the challenge in stride. Clad in his favorite bicentennial shorts, he set out to create the perfect place for delicate roses to thrive in the harsh Texas climate.

He built a raised flower bed with railroad ties to provide proper drainage. He filled it with premium soil. Before planting those rose bushes, he added a drip irrigation system. This form of steady watering was indeed the best-kept rose-growing secret. Roses love moist soil. If you know Texas summers, you know the two kinds of weather: monsoon and drought. None of those gentle, soaking rains around here. It is all or nothing. My father’s drip irrigation helped keep those roses happy. My father’s efforts were rewarded with the most spectacular display of rose blooms that wrapped our entire front garden in a rainbow of colors.

Gardeners must provide all that is needed for plants to thrive. Because God is a faithful tender of my soul, he provides the Bible to give practical guidance on soul care and keep. The book of Psalms is one of my favorite places to find this wisdom.

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are valid, and righteous altogether. (Psalm 19:7-9 ESV)

We all need a drip irrigation system of daily exposure to God’s word. A once-weekly reading of the Bible at church might last for a day or two, but the daily infusion revives us and keeps us thriving.

Soul Care Essentials

Verses 7-9 of Psalm 19 identify three soul care essentials.

  • law, commandments, precepts
  • testimonies
  • fear or proper reverence or respect

The Law

We have to know the law or the commandments to follow them. God is our designer, and he knows all about our design capacity. Can someone function well without sleep? No. Did you know that God directs us to rest in His word? Can someone lie or steal and suffer zero consequences? No. God’s guidance is always for our good, and we need daily reminders lest we wander off course.

Testimonies

God directs his people to share what He is doing in our lives. (1 Chronicles 16:8) He knows we need the reminder, and sharing testimonies is a powerful way to encourage others.

Fear

God wants us to remember to show respect for Him and for all He has created. When we lose touch with this principle, suffering follows quickly.

A Daily Dose of God’s Word

How can we make daily Bible reading a part of our daily lives? How do we make that drip irrigation of Bible verses an essential part of every day?

First, figure out your best learning style.

Are you a visual learner, an audio learner, or a tactile-kinesthetic learner (someone who learns best through movement or touch)?

Second, test-drive some different ways to take in scripture daily.

Since I am an audio learner, I listen to a podcast (“1 Year Daily Audio Bible”) that reads scripture daily, taking me through the Bible in one year. It’s a daily 15-20 minute investment that makes a difference for me.

What could a visual learner do? First, find a daily scripture reading program that would give you daily doses of scripture that could be read in less than 15-20 minutes.

What about tactile-kinesthetic learners? Try moving as you listen to scripture. I walk while listening, and this helps me to focus.

Prayer

Thank you, Lord, that your law is perfect. Thank you that it has the power to revive my parched soul today and always. Thank you that testimonies about what you have done for me and others are specific and daily reminders of your kindness. Thank you that your guidance makes wise the simple. I could use an extra measure of your wisdom today. Thank you that your precepts are correct, and they bring joy to my battered heart. Your commandment is pure and enlightening to my eyes when I don’t know what to do or where to go. Please help me recognize and respect you and be cleansed by drawing near you. Thank you that in an ever-changing world, all of this is enduring forever; your rules are valid and righteous altogether. When I cry out to you, I am restored. AMEN

How about you? How will you take in your daily dose of scripture?

Sunrise Sightings of the Kingdom of God – Psalm 19:1-6

/ Anthea Kotlan / 2 Comments

Don’t you love a good home or backyard makeover show?

Everyone does because it is entirely satisfying to spend less than an hour watching the entire transformation from broken to beautiful, gross to gorgeous, and so forth. A home renovation or backyard makeover typically takes months, but pop on your favorite streaming service, and you can witness a swift restoration. It’s a quick fix!

As humans, we are drawn to renewal. I believe it is a glimpse into the ache for the now and not yet of living in God’s Kingdom. God is in the business of renovating our lives for His glory. Will a setback turn into a setup for a miraculous display of restoration? Psalm 19 begins with recordings of these sightings in the world around us.

1The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.(Psalm 19:1-6 ESV)

God Sightings

God appears in all aspects of creation. His presence is translated from the skies to the earth. In every 24-hour cycle, His presence is revealed from the first light to the dark of night. No part of earth or resident of this planet doesn’t experience the warmth of God’s presence. He covers every inch of the world and makes Himself known over and over in so many different ways because He is so kind. He wants everyone to see and experience Him. This drives His endless creativity to show up in new ways every day and night. Those twinkling stars, that staggering moon, and the sunrise remind us that His mercies are new every morning. He’s at work in a makeover every single day.

Sunrise Spotting

If your schedule permits, consider getting up about thirty minutes before the sun is scheduled to rise. Check the weather app on your phone; it will tell you when the sun will be coming up. Find a place outside where you can sit, sip coffee (a pretty essential part for me), and watch the first light of the sunrise begin to fill the sky. It’s a slow-motion reveal. Don’t take your eyes off the horizon for even a minute. A soft but growing glow begins the display. Then fingers of light poke up and out. Incrementally the sun appears and then hangs suspended between earth and the sky. So often, there is a vivid display of many colors. The sun almost seems to be paused, and yet it surges on. Finally, it is fully sprung and released to fill the sky with brightness.

This soul-tending activity is a sacred practice in the quiet early morning hours. It feels like a secret that God is sharing just with you. But, most of all, it is a reminder of God’s power to make all things new. A momentary glimpse into the promise of eternity in a new heaven and earth gives us the strength to face another day. These are sunrise sightings of the Kingdom of God.

Prayer

Lord, open my eyes to your displays of majesty. Please help me to see what you are doing in the world around me every day to prove who you are. Thank you for the sunrises. Thank you for reminding me of how you renew my and your world. Amen.


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