Psalm 65

Praise awaits you, our God  - let me not delay in praising You today.You who answer prayer - may i never stop praying to my faithful and attentive God.
I am forgiven, blessed and filled by You and Your pure goodness.  How can I thank You well?
Nature, creation, the very earth respond rightly to You; may it be true of me, as well.  You are worthy.

Psalm 64

... wicked evildoers ... sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows. ... But God will shoot them with his arrows; they will suddenly be struck down.

Man's arrows versus God's.  Man's words are instruments of destruction and death, poisoned with nefarious intent.  God apprehends the perpetrators of evil, those who would perpetuate wickedness and those same malevolent malcontents participate in the proclamation of God's works. 

Lord God, the purpose of the darts of the iniquitous is death; Your purpose is life.  Even the abhorrent will join the chorus of God's praise as a response to His actions against their arrows.  I can't begin to comprehend how this plays out, I don't know how God-haters will be turned into God-praisers; but I know that all will bow and worship.  I love how You exact worship from those who set their hearts against You.  You are worthy.  You alone.  Father, I desire to be a participant in Your culture of life, even though my tongue can be deal hurtful truculence and vitriolic rants.  I give my tongue, my heart and my mind to You, Holy One, that You may change them and guard them to the satisfaction of Your Name.

Psalm 63

I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.  Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.

Lord, my experience with You and Your gloriousness in Your sanctuary is beyond compare.  You are omnipotent, omnipresent, omni-love, omni-faithful and omni-glorious.  I pray that I would completely believe, really live in response to the truth that Your steadfast love is better than life.  In and out of the sanctuary, not just on Sundays.  That my lips would ever-glorify You, beyond the corporate worship.  Outside the sanctuary.  That I would comprehend that I am Your sanctuary, that I would see You and behold Your power and glory in the dailyness of my little life.  I bring the sanctuary with me.  And You are in Your sanctuary.  I praise You.

Psalm 62

My salvation and my honor depend on God ...

Lord, it is a simple matter to trust You with my life, my salvation.  You are trustworthy and Your love is unfailing.  Oh, Father, how I struggle with the honor portion.  Yet this is where the living to You and dying to me is played out - how I actually trust You with my props, my reputation, my "name" - my honor.  I am sad that this is still an area where You must deal with me.  God, help me not to love me so much; that I may be freed to love You more - more responsively, more audaciously, more publicly, more genuinely.  Help me learn the art of self-forgetfulness.  Make me a better reflection of You - which really means I have to get out of the picture frame.  Oh, to know You and love You more.  Please make it so, Holy Spirit.  Grant me no rest, (even as I wish to rest now), as You cultivate that which will yield a life well-given to You.

Psalm 61

… lead me to the rock that is higher than I …

Holy Spirit, You Who teaches and reminds me of all things, Who gives me counsel, Who guides me into all truth, I thank You for Your faithful presence in my life and mind. Please, Holy Spirit, lead me out of myself and my affinity for the physical, the visible, the tangible; that I may recognize the Kingdom at hand. This world, my flesh and my reactions want to exalt the here and now; but in doing that, I will miss that higher place, the realm of eternality and Kingdom participation. I will choose the graspable rather than the attainable, if You do not lead me to the beyond-me, the divine cliff which sees and surveys from the sacred perspective. Remind me that I do not come to a Brobdingnagian terminus; rather a rock that is higher than I. I do not want to be defined, fettered and boundaried by this world. I want You. I choose Your path. Lead me. Take me. away from me.

Psalm 6p

You have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fractures, for it is quaking.  You have shown our people desperate times; You have given us wine that makes us stagger....Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered....Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless.

What You shake continues to quake.  Your power is staggering, we can't handle what is common to You.   Man's efforts may be much and mighty; but they are worthless to meet the need, the enemy, the problem.   They fail to avail.  Resistance in cooperation with You, Your love and Your excellent purpose yields triumph for Your children.   We need Your salvation, Your divine aid, Your deliverance. Only from You. Only by You.  Only for You.  I am Yours, have Your way with me.

Psalm 59

Deliver me, protect me, save me, meet me
My Strength, my Fortress, my God, our Shield, my Refuge
I watch, I sing, I praise, I receive Your love

Lord, may i remember what it is You do and what it is i am to do.  You are my Deliverer, my Protector, My Savior, the One Who Sees me and never forsakes me.  I am not these things, i am not qualified to do these things.  You have qualified me for Your salvation - thank You.  To You alone may i cry out, watch, sing, praise, and receive Your love in faith, expectant hope and audacious confidence.  None other; but You, my very great God.