“Hear my prayer, O Lord;
give ear to my pleas for mercy!..
for no one living is righteous before you.
For the enemy has pursued my soul;
he has crushed my life to the ground;
he has made me sit in darkness…
Therefore my spirit faints within me;
my heart within me is appalled.
I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all you have done;
I ponder the work of your hands.
I stretch out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.
Answer me quickly, O Lord!
My spirit fails!..
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord!
I have fled to you for refuge.
Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
on level ground!
For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life!
In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
In your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
for I am your servant.” Psalm 143:1-12
David comes to God in the desperation of a hunted soul. He acknowledges his unrighteousness before God and the enemy’s constant pursuit and crushing. His soul is fainting, thirsty, in need of revival he finds solely in this LORD, in this One who does ponderous things and is trustworthy and steadfast in love. He can reveal the right path, He will lead in righteousness and for His name’s sake. To Him only will the psalmist lift up his soul and find help.
Many are the aches and trials of the Christian’s soul. Pelted with doubts, teased with temptation, pestered with regrets, we languish. Rebuffed by colleagues, chafed by loved ones, challenged by setbacks, we are bruised. Longing for deliverance, craving intimacy, yearning for holiness, we pant. Morning by morning we need Him for the troubles and track of the day, and wondrously, remarkably, thankfully, He hears our pleas and answers. (Matthew 6:34)
When did we last take account of our soul? In the frenetic mental and physical press of routine, we seldom take pause to consider its state. Spiritual hunger is squelched by busy activity, bereft spirits ignored for urgent responsibilities. We think ourselves indispensable in tasks of the day and put off tending to the night of our deepest place.
But this is where teaching and trust is needful and applied. If we do not see it we will not seek it. If we neglect the deeper pondering and panting we destine ourselves to superficial living. What will it be?
Where stand our souls? Whom or what is our sole desire, that dictates whom we serve and to what we surrender? If we live honestly before Jesus, our souls will be secure in true refuge and rejoicing.
I rejoice in my Redeemer
Greatest Treasure,
Wellspring of my soul
I will trust in Him, no other.
My soul is satisfied in Him alone.” ~Keith and Kristyn Getty, Graham Kendrick (2014)
I lift my soul to Thee, O Lord, that You might keep and shine forth Your word.
As the rain and snow 