family

Psalm 128, Proverbs 29

 ¹ How joyful are those who fear the Lord—
      all who follow his ways! ...
 ³ Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine,
      flourishing within your home.
   Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees
      as they sit around your table.

This reminds me of Isaiah 61:3 -

       ... They will be called oaks of righteousness,
       a planting of the LORD
       for the display of his splendor.

Heavenly Father, please fill me with the joy of your salvation.  Lord, I fear you, and I trust you.  Lord, please plant oaks of righteousness in my family, and use us for the display of your splendor.  I ask in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

construction

Psalm 127, Proverbs 28

Ps. 127  ¹ Unless the Lord builds a house,
      the work of the builders is wasted. ...
 ³ Children are a gift from the Lord;
      they are a reward from him.
 ⁴ Children born to a young man
      are like arrows in a warrior's hands.
 ⁵ How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!
      He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.

By His grace, the Lord has blessed us with a healthy pregnancy, and I trust that in November He will provide a child.  As a young married couple with two incomes, it is easy to become self-confident and settle into a routine.  It is amazing how much humility you gain when you find out you are expecting, because you realize how little you know and how insecure we really are.  Life is so brief and so fragile.  I am beginning to realize the truth in verse 1 that I am not able to build or maintain a house - only the LORD can.  I trust him with my wife and children.

I was thinking about verse 4 in the context of Ephesians 6.  By the Lord's grace, He will advance His Kingdom by using me to train my children to love Him, fear Him, and obey Him.  My children will be members of His Church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail!

Heavenly Father, you are so gracious to bless me with a child.  Please help me be a faithful steward with the children you give me, and help me train them in righteousness.  Please anoint them with your Holy Spirit and author faith in their hearts.  I pray that you will advance your Kingdom through our family and that you will receive honor and praise through our worshipful lifestyle.  I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

restoration- weeping and rejoicing

Psalm 126, Proverbs 27

Ps. 126 ⁴ Restore our fortunes, Lord,
      as streams renew the desert.
 ⁵ Those who plant in tears
      will harvest with shouts of joy.
 ⁶ They weep as they go to plant their seed,
      but they sing as they return with the harvest.

These verses remind me of Joel 2:

 ¹² "Even now," declares the LORD,
       "return to me with all your heart,
       with fasting and weeping and mourning." ...
 ¹⁹ The LORD will reply to them:
       "I am sending you grain, new wine and oil,
       enough to satisfy you fully;
       never again will I make you
       an object of scorn to the nations.  ...

 ²⁵ "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—
       the great locust and the young locust,
       the other locusts and the locust swarm—
       my great army that I sent among you.

 ²⁶ You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,
       and you will praise the name of the LORD your God,
       who has worked wonders for you;
       never again will my people be shamed.

 ²⁷ Then you will know that I am in Israel,
       that I am the LORD your God,
       and that there is no other;
       never again will my people be shamed.

 ²⁸ "And afterward,
       I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
       Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
       your old men will dream dreams,
       your young men will see visions.

I am also reminded of Matthew 5:

 ³"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 ⁴Blessed are those who mourn,
      for they will be comforted.
 ⁵Blessed are the meek,
      for they will inherit the earth.
 ⁶Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
      for they will be filled.

The Theology of the Cross is foolishness to the world (1 Cor. 1).  I must die to my fleshly self daily, and the Lord must grow my spirit into the image of Christ.  It is through this process that I will be restored.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your faithful love.  Thank you for your promise of restoration.  I have been foolish, and I have offended you.  Thank you for forgiving me and giving me new life by your Holy Spirit.  May I die to my selfish desires today, and may your Holy Spirit take control of my mind and renew me.  Lord, please restore me and produce abundant crops of the fruit of your Holy Spirit in me.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

guarded

Psalm 125, Proverbs 26

As I pray for continued health and protection for my wife and unborn child, I find great comfort and peace in these verses this morning:

Ps. 125 ¹ Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion;
      they will not be defeated but will endure forever.
 ² Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem,
      so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever.

Heavenly Father, I take refuge in you.  Thank you for your grace in revealing yourself to me and drawing me to you.  Thank you for your Word, which assures me of your loving care and protection.  I commit my wife and child into your hands; thank you that I can be confident that you are guarding me and my family.  May I continue to find favor in your sight and live in humble obedience.  Please teach me to love you with all of my heart, mind, soul, and strength.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

the peace of fellowship with God

Psalm 120, Proverbs 21

 ¹ I took my troubles to the Lord;
      I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.

This is one of the benefits of being a child of God.  Brotherhood with Christ grants us access to our Heavenly Father, and we are encouraged to boldly enter into His presence with faith like a child.  We don't need to bear the weight of our troubles because Christ's death and resurrection gives us the Victory!

Heavenly Father, thank you for the grace of your presence.  Thank you for the victory we have in Jesus.  Lord, I am confused and frustrated with my laboratory experimentation; please give me peace and wisdom.  I ask you to sovereignly guide me to do what is right and good for your glory.  Lord, I need you.  I am lost and foolish; please rescue me and cement me in your Kingdom.  I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

ending Psalm 119

Psalm 119:169-176, Proverbs 20

The ending of Psalm 119 is so fitting!  Throughout the chapter, the psalmist describes the love and salvation of the Lord.  Sprinkled throughout are recitations of God's promises and, in turn, the psalmist promising to love, seek, and obey the Lord.  It seems like this last stanza is a microcosm of the whole chapter:

 ¹⁶⁹ O Lord, listen to my cry;
      give me the discerning mind you promised.
 ¹⁷⁰ Listen to my prayer;
      rescue me as you promised.
 ¹⁷¹ Let praise flow from my lips,
      for you have taught me your decrees.
 ¹⁷² Let my tongue sing about your word,
      for all your commands are right.
 ¹⁷³ Give me a helping hand,
      for I have chosen to follow your commandments.
 ¹⁷⁴ O Lord, I have longed for your rescue,
      and your instructions are my delight.
 ¹⁷⁵ Let me live so I can praise you,
      and may your regulations help me.
 ¹⁷⁶ I have wandered away like a lost sheep;
      come and find me,
      for I have not forgotten your commands.

I can really identify with this stanza.  I beg the Lord for discernment and rescue (169-170).  I desire to sing with the joy of my salvation and communicate God's love and righteousness to the nations (171-172).  But I am so prone to wander, and it is only by His grace, according to the measure of faith He has given me, that I may walk with Him and please Him (173-176).

Heavenly Father, you are so good, and I am so corrupt.  Lord, please save me from myself.  Sanctify me, please!  Lord, may I walk in your presence and enjoy your love.  Lord, I pray that my life will please you, and that my life will be a sacrifice to honor you.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the most blessed Sacrifice.  Amen.

harmonic damping

Psalm 119:161-168, Proverbs 19

Ps. 119 ¹⁶¹ Powerful people harass me without cause,
      but my heart trembles only at your word.

In structural dynamic analysis, the geometry and material properties of the structure define its vibrational behavior.  For typical structures, there is at least one frequency of vibration (known as the resonance frequency) which exacerbates the amplitude of vibration.  The spiritual question here is:  What makes you move?  Am I harmonized with the Lord's Word or with the people and situation around me.

This morning I am very frustrated by my inability to control a certain aspect of my dissertation experimentation, and I am reminded that I must wait on the Lord.

Heavenly Father, please help me tune in to you and your words of life.  I pray that I will not be moved by the frustrations of my work, but rather, Lord please work in my heart and life to change the situation for your glory.  Father, I need your help, and I depend on you.  I am ignorant and weak.  Please help me.  I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

blessed to be a blessing

Psalm 119:153-160, Proverbs 18

Pr. 18 ⁴ Wise words are like deep waters;
      wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook. ...

 ²⁰ Wise words satisfy like a good meal;
      the right words bring satisfaction.

 ²¹ The tongue can bring death or life;
      those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

In our Bible Life Group meeting yesterday morning, we studied the life of Ruth.  One of the things that I have never noticed previously was how much blessing is going on in the midst of tough times:

1:6 Then Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had blessed his people in Judah by giving them good crops again. ...
1:8 But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go back to your mothers' homes. And may the Lord reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me.  9 May the Lord bless you with the security of another marriage." ...
2:4 While [Ruth] was there, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters. "The Lord be with you!" he said.   "The Lord bless you!" the harvesters replied. ...
2:19 "Where did you gather all this grain today?" Naomi asked. "Where did you work? May the Lord bless the one who helped you!" ... ²⁰ "May the Lord bless him!" Naomi told her daughter-in-law. "He is showing his kindness to us as well as to your dead husband. ...
3:10 "The Lord bless you, my daughter!" Boaz exclaimed. "You are showing even more family loyalty now than you did before, for you have not gone after a younger man, whether rich or poor. ...
4:11 Then the elders and all the people standing in the gate replied, "We are witnesses! May the Lord make this woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, from whom all the nation of Israel descended! May you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. ¹² And may the Lord give you descendants by this young woman who will be like those of our ancestor Perez, the son of Tamar and Judah."

The Lord has blessed me so much!  He expects me to bless others, so that they may know the Lord's loving-kindness as well.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your many blessings.  Thank you for the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ!  Thank you for giving me faith and salvation!  Lord, thank you for a wonderful family that encourages me in my walk with you.  Lord, please fill me with your Holy Spirit and empower me to please you and obey you.  Father, please bless others through me.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

pure and gentle words

Psalm 119:129-136, Proverbs 15

Pr. 15 ¹ A gentle answer deflects anger,
      but harsh words make tempers flare. ...
 ⁴ Gentle words are a tree of life;
      a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. ...
 ²⁶ The Lord detests evil plans,
      but he delights in pure words. ...
 ²⁸ The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking;
      the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.

Sadly, I need to be reminded of this so often.  It's not like I speak harsh, cutting words all the time, but even plain, mechanical words are not godly.  Of course, the ideal is that my words would be an overflow of His:

Ps. 119 ¹³⁰ The teaching of your word gives light,
      so even the simple can understand.

Heavenly Father, please help me speak pure and gentle words.  May I repeat your words of life and light.  May you delight in me being an ambassador of your love to the nations.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

servant

Psalm 119:121-128, Proverbs 14

 ¹²⁴ I am your servant; deal with me in unfailing love,
      and teach me your decrees.
 ¹²⁵ Give discernment to me, your servant;
      then I will understand your laws.

It's easy for me to say that I am a servant of the Most High God, but am I really?  Does my lifestyle (words and actions) definitively prove that I am a servant of Yahweh?  Obeying His commands, desiring to please Him, explaining to others that He is the Good Master...

Heavenly Father, please forgive me for being a servant of my flesh.  Dear Lord, please give me humility and help me consciously realize your authority, power, and presence.  Please help me love your commands and love you through obedience.  I pray that my thoughts and attitudes, as well as my actions, will please you today.  Lord, I need your grace, and I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

walking with the Lord

Psalm 119:113-120, Proverbs 13

Ps. 119 ¹¹⁴ You are my refuge and my shield;
      your word is my source of hope. ...
 ¹¹⁶ Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live!
      Do not let my hope be crushed.

For the past two years, my Brother Mike has been working on his Master's degree with my professor.  We met almost every Wednesday for lunch to pray, share, and gain more of the Lord together.  He has had a significant impact on my spiritual growth, and today he is moving on to the next phase of life.  He doesn't know where the Lord is leading Him yet, so he is going to visit his family and friends, some Brothers and Sisters, and hopefully go on a mission trip to South America.  He shared this hymn with me, which really ministers to me as I consider my future beyond the PhD:

1. I know not what awaits me,
   God kindly veils my eyes,
   And o'er each step of my onward way
   He makes new scenes to rise;
   And every joy He sends me comes
   A sweet and glad surprise.
   

Where He may lead I'll follow,
My trust in Him repose;
And every hour in perfect peace,
I'll sing, "He knows, He knows";
And every hour in perfect peace,
I'll sing, "He knows, He knows."

2. One step I see before me,
   'Tis all I need to see,
   The light of heaven more brightly shines
   When earth's illusions flee;
   And sweetly through the silence comes,
   His loving, "Trust in Me!"
   
   
3. Oh, blissful lack of wisdom,
   'Tis blessed not to know;
   He holds me with His own right hand,
   And will not let me go,
   And lulls my troubled soul to rest
   In Him who loves me so.
   
   
4. So on I go not knowing;
   I would not if I might;
   I'd rather walk in the dark with God
   Than go alone in the light;
   I'd rather walk by faith with Him
   Than go alone by sight.
   
   (http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php?t=nt&n=711)
   

Knowledge is not the end-goal, it is the Lord Himself!  My Brother Ryan shared this with me recently:

"The redeemed have all their objective good in God. God himself is the great good which they are brought to the possession and enjoyment of by redemption. He is the highest good, and the sum of all that good which Christ has purchased. God is the inheritance of the saints; he is the portion of their souls. God is their wealth and treasure, their food, their life, their dwelling place, their ornament and diadem, and their everlasting honor and glory. They have none in heaven but God; he is the great good which the redeemed are received to at death, and which they are to rise to at the end of the world.

The Lord God, he is the light of the heavenly Jerusalem; and is the 'the river of the water of life' that runs, and the tree of life that grows, 'in the midst of the paradise of God.' The glorious excellencies and beauty of God will be what will forever entertain the minds of the saints, and the love of God will be their everlasting feast. The redeemed will indeed enjoy other things; they will enjoy the angels, and will enjoy one another: but that which they shall enjoy in the angels, or each other, or in anything else whatsoever, that will yield them delight and happiness, will be what will be seen of God in them.

—Jonathan Edwards, "God Glorified in the Work of Redemption," in The Sermons of Jonathan Edwards: A Reader, ed. Wilson H. Kimnach, et al (1999): 74-75

Heavenly Father, you are good, and your mercy endures forever.  Lord, may we walk in your gracious presence, and may we desire you more than knowledge.  May we know you and your Word, and may we express you with others.  I pray that we will celebrate your grace with others.  May the Lord Jesus Christ be glorified in me today by the power of the Holy Spirit; I pray in His name.  Amen.

the path

Psalm 119:105-112, Proverbs 12

Pr. 12 ²⁸ The way of the godly leads to life;
      that path does not lead to death.
Ps. 119 ¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
      and a light for my path.

These verses list two of the three "L"s of walking with God:  life, light, and love.  It is a journey, not just a beginning or an ending point.  Many evangelicals over emphasize the moment of faith - "Did you accept Jesus in your heart."  That's like only caring if a baby is born.  But we shouldn't jump right to the end either.  We must continually experience the Lord's presence and work through our daily lives.  We must walk with Him in faith daily, as so many have before us (Hebrews 11:1-12:2).

Heavenly Father, thank you for your patience with me.  I am so fickle, and I so often get side tracked or delayed on this path of faith.  Lord, please help me walk with you.  Lord, I want to know you and experience you.  Please advance your kingdom through me today.  As the psalmist prayed, I promise to keep your commands.  Please show me grace according to Jesus Christ.  Amen.

fast weekend

Psalm 119:97-104, Proverbs 11

Friday evening after work, Brandi and I drove up to Ruston, LA for JJ and Katie's wedding.  I got to hang out with the guys for the "Bachelor's party"; we just stood around and talked for a couple of hours at Dorkfish's house.  All of JJ's friends were really nice - a bunch of very friendly Christian guys.  Saturday morning, JJ treated us to some skeet shooting out in the woods - more great fun.  The competition ranged from several guys missing every single shot to JJ's youngest brother showing us all how it's done.  The wedding was very simple.  I think a lot of people get caught up in all of the glitz and glamour of how a wedding is "supposed to look", when they should be more clear and simple like JJ and Katie's wedding.

With all the time that Brandi and I had in the car, we read several chapters in a book called On becoming Baby Wise (Ezzo and Bucknam) that a friend gave us.  With all of the parenting know it alls out there, Brandi and I have decided that the proof is in the pudding.  We know two couples in our church that have implemented the Baby Wise model, and their children sleep through the night (e.g., 7-8 hours) within 10 weeks of birth.  No crying to sleep, no coddling to sleep, you simply put them in their beds when they are awake, and they go to sleep.  We have been convinced by firsthand experience, so we are going to do it.

 ⁹⁷ Oh, how I love your instructions!
      I think about them all day long. ...
 ¹⁰³ How sweet your words taste to me;
      they are sweeter than honey.

The only way that I will ever go beyond religious ritual is if I really enjoy the Lord.  I have to experience Him to know how good His truth is when it is practiced in my life.

Heavenly Father, I love you, and I need you.  I am so far away from you, and I want to go much deeper beyond the surface level knowledge of you.  Lord, I want more of you.  Lord, you are the Breath of Life, the Living Water, and the Bread of Life.  May I experience your goodness today.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

blameless

Psalm 119:73-80, Proverbs 8

The first challenging verse in Psalm 119 is:

 ⁷⁴ May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy,
      for I have put my hope in your word.

Are ALL of my Brothers and Sisters in Christ encouraged with joy because of my faithfulness to the Scriptures?  Can people see in me a love for the Scriptures?  Not just reading them religiously, but loving the Word because it reveals God Himself.  Why don't I speak of the Father's love all the time?  Why don't I quote Jesus's words?  Why don't I celebrate the promises of the Holy Spirit that are given in the Word?

The second challenge is even tougher:

 ⁸⁰ May I be blameless in keeping your decrees;
      then I will never be ashamed.

Blameless is one of those absolute words that you simply can not adulterate.  When you say blameless, it means perfect.  I am so far from blameless that I am thoroughly ashamed.  And it is even more sobering considering that I am a teacher.

Heavenly Father, I beg your mercy.  I am so clueless and complacent. Lord, I need your grace to follow your commands - not religiously, but lovingly.  Dear God, please help me.  I want to be blameless - for your honor and glory.  I want to be one who facilitates your joy in others - to bless you.  Help me, Jesus.  Amen.

hallelujah!

Psalm 119:65-72, Proverbs 7

 ⁶⁶ I believe in your commands;
      now teach me good judgment and knowledge. ...
 ⁶⁸ You are good and do only good;
      teach me your decrees.

Last night Brandi and I had the opportunity to substitute for two people on our Bible Life Group's visitation team.  Ken and his wife just had a baby, and Karen was in Paris on her way back from a mission trip to Africa.  On a previous visit, the team had engaged a man named Scott (whose wife, Paula, is a Christian) about personally trusting and committing his life to Christ; he was interested, but hesitant.  Before Karen left for Africa, she purchased a Bible for Scott, which our team (Alexy, Haley, Brandi, and me) delivered last night.  We visited about current events, churches, and "end times" stuff for a little while. Then we shared several Scriptures (John 3:16; Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-10,13, and Jeremiah 29:11), and we invited him to put his faith in Jesus Christ.  We led him in a simple ABC prayer! (Admit that I am a sinner and have offended God, Believe that the Bible is true and that Jesus died for my sins and rose from the grave, Commit my life to Christ's authority and purposes)  We could tell that he was genuine, so we spent some time encouraging him in his walk with the Lord.  Hellelujah!

Heavenly Father, thank you so much for Scott and the new life you have given him.  I pray that you will teach him your commands so that he will grow into an oak of righteousness for your glory.  Lord, please protect him and guide him.  I pray that he will be a devoted disciple of Christ and that he will delight in you.  Thank you for the encouragment of letting me be involved in his coming to know you.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, the only name by which we are saved. Amen.

possession

Psalm 119:54-64, Proverbs 6

 ⁵⁷ Lord, you are mine!
      I promise to obey your words!

This statement is pretty bold.  I could understand the opposite statement, "Lord, I am yours.", because everything is His.  When I first read this, I thought it was pretty audacious for a person to say that he owns God.  Another translation renders it, "Jehovah is my portion."  So, I think the psalmist is saying, "Yahweh, the Covenant-keeping, Self-existing One, you are the only thing that I will really inherit.  You are the only thing worth striving for and receiving.  Therefore, I will obey your words so that I may gain more of you."  I think it is like this scripture:

Phil. 3 ⁸ Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ ⁹ and become one with him.

Heavenly Father, you are so wonderful.  You are the true treasure.  All of the things in this world are actually nothing compared to you; please help me see the reality and not be deceived by the glamor of the world.  Lord, please give me a simple and pure devotion to you.  Please help me follow you with single-minded obedience so that I may gain more of you.  I love you, Lord.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

clinging to promises

Psalm 119:49-54, Proverbs 5

Pr. 5 ²¹ For the Lord sees clearly what a man does,
      examining every path he takes.
 ²² An evil man is held captive by his own sins;
      they are ropes that catch and hold him.
 ²³ He will die for lack of self-control;
      he will be lost because of his great foolishness.

It is a constant focus on God and His promises to us that keep us from self-destructing in the friction of moral conflict:

Ps. 119 ⁴⁹ Remember your promise to me;
      it is my only hope.
 ⁵⁰ Your promise revives me;
      it comforts me in all my troubles.
...
 ⁵⁴ Your decrees have been the theme of my songs
      wherever I have lived.

We must become part of Him, and He must become part of us.  Unity with Him is the only way.

Heavenly Father, I need you to save me from myself.  Lord God, please fill me with your Holy Spirit and unite me with the person and mission of Jesus Christ.  May I be united with you so that I may fully know you and express you in your creation.  May you be the song on my lips.  I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

focus

Psalm 119:41-48, Proverbs 4

These words in Proverbs 4 always encourage me:

 ²⁵ Look straight ahead,
      and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
 ²⁶ Mark out a straight path for your feet;
      stay on the safe path.
 ²⁷ Don't get sidetracked;
      keep your feet from following evil.

I feel like these words are applicable for me both spiritually and vocationally.  In my academic studies, it is necessary for me to work diligently, especially these next several months.  Spiritually, we are running a marathon, and we can not loose focus in our race.  God's promise is that as we seek Him and love Him,

 ¹¹ I will teach you wisdom's ways
      and lead you in straight paths.
 ¹² When you walk, you won't be held back;
      when you run, you won't stumble.

Over the course of our lives, we will see this promise demonstrated:

 ¹⁸ The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
      which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.

Heavenly Father, you have promised to save me and sustain me.  Lord, I need you.  I want to know you more deeply.  Please reveal yourself to me and empower me to express you to others.  May your name be praised by the faithful cadence of the marathon pace you have given my feet.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

the Word

Psalm 119:17-24, Proverbs 1

The emphasis of the eight verses from Psalm 119 this morning:  word, law, commands, laws, commands, decrees, principles, decrees.  This reminds me of John 1:14:

¹⁴The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Similarly, from Proverbs 1:23, through Adam we all ran away from God and His Word, but Wisdom calls out for us to turn around (repent):

 ²³Turn back at my reproof, lo, I pour forth to you my spirit, I make known my words with you. (YLT)

Heavenly Father, thank you for pursuing me through Jesus Christ, even though I ran from you.  Lord, please give me ears to hear the call of Wisdom to repent, and give me a heart to come running back to you.  Lord, please give me a heart and mind to love your Word, not for legalism and self-righteousness, but to know you and your character.  Lord, I love you, and I need you so desperately to save me from destruction.  I trust you with my life, I stand on your Word, and I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.