Deeper Longings with Dan
18 August 2020
Hi everyone, this is Dan. I am a member of the first congregation at RHC.
And as I just come before the Lord this morning, I have to acknowledge that I’m feeling a sense of weariness. Life has presented a number of challenges for all of us recently, with the virus outbreak - just changing routines and expectations, and our way of life in so many ways. Things have just been disrupted. In the midst of all of that, I’ve been working on a number of decisions and planning around major life events, and I think that in the midst of all of that, there has been an accumulated stress. As I record this today, I think this is especially true. I feel tired and overwhelmed by the long list of tasks that are set before me, and even before starting, I feel defeated. Worst of all, I don’t sense God’s presence in my situation. In my heart, I know that God’s character hasn’t changed. He’s still my loving Father, but my sin prevents me from seeking him when my need is greatest. For me personally, I suffer from, and am often tempted by self-reliance and the distraction that that presents to my walk with God is always a struggle. It’s an on-going battle for me. So today, I want to bring these things before him in prayer, echoing the Psalmist in Psalm 42:5 who says,
“Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.”
And earlier in the Psalm in verses 1 and 2, expressing a similar sentiment, saying,
“As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?”
Father in heaven, God, this morning, I just want to acknowledge you as the Creator of the heavens and the earth, as the one who set the stars in place and set them in motion, and who is, even now, and has been throughout all history, reigning as Sovereign King over all creation. God, I thank you for your good character. I thank you that you love righteousness and you hate wickedness and you’ve also shown commitment to your glory throughout the ages. God, I thank you for your unchanging character. And God, this morning, as I come before you, I just want to confess my weariness. I have sought security in worldly accomplishments. I have relied on my own strength to achieve a measure of success here. God, I have distracted myself with a great many things and prevented myself from drawing near to you.
And God, I just want to ask for your mercy. Would you have mercy on me, Father, according to your unfailing love? And in my malnourishment, would you help me to see your Son, especially, who paid for all of my sins by enduring death on a cross? God, and in this moment, I just want to ask that you would help me to turn to you, the Bread of Life, when I am tempted and weary. And God, would you help me to look to your example? On the day before Christ’s crucifixion, I’m reminded of his struggle with the task that was set before him and his bringing before you, God, in prayer, the weight of that burden. But I also thank you for the example that he’s provided for us in submitting to your will and submitting to the goodness of your plans and the glory was set before him. So, Father, would you help me to look to that example this morning? My soul thirsts for you, the Living God. God, would you help me to seek your kingdom first, rather than pursuing earthly rewards? God, I just also ask that you would show yourself to me. God, would you reveal yourself and help me see you afresh, that I might sing your praises, that I might worship you and glorify you with my life?
Father, I thank you for revealing yourself to me and for your faithfulness towards your people. And I thank you that I’m able to trust that, now, knowing that even though I feel downcast and burdened, that I can hope in your goodness and I can trust in your faithfulness and your commitment to your promises, God. And I thank you for the strength that that assurance provides. God, I ask, today, that you would help me to grow in spiritual maturity and give me wisdom for these trying circumstances, so that I might be able to live in a manner that’s more pleasing to you, rather than trusting in my own strength, rather than finding security and identity in my accomplishments here on earth, and often feeling overwhelmed and burdened when I fail to meet a standard of success, of worldly success, by my own strength, God would you help me to trust and savour the joy I have in knowing you and in my restored status, in my renewed status in Christ? God I just lift all these things up to you in your Son’s most precious name. Amen.