Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

"Save me, O God, for the flood waters are up to my neck.
Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire; I can't find a foothold to stand on.
I am in deep water, and the floods overwhelm me.
I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched and dry.
My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me…
But I keep right on praying to you, Lord, hoping this is the time you will show me favor".
Psalm 69:1-3, 13 NLT

Reflection:

Actually this prayer of David's in this psalm is telling us,
"Save me, I'm sinking". Here we see a very desperate
David who can't even think of helping himself. But at
least David knew whom he needs to ask for help.
Although he was exhausted from crying to the Lord in
prayer, he kept on shouting to his God, the only one
who could see him.
When the waves of adversity threaten to drown you in
despair, PRAY TO GOD. Remember David's persistence.
AND KEEP ON ASKING GOD FOR HELP!

Prayer:

Dear Lord, I am exhausted from crying for help, but I
will keep on praying to You. I know that you are there
for me. I know that you are the only one that can
really see me.

Scripture:

1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Psalm 139:1-3 (NIV)

Reflection:

Do you have a best friend?  A person that knows
everything about you.  A person who knows your
likes and dislikes, your secrets, all your various
characteristics.  Very few of us are secure enough
to let our real selves come out and show itself,
except to a real friend who is close to us.
I like the old adage that defines a friend as,
"one who knows all about you, and likes you
anyway." 
You know what, that's what so great about being
a Christian.  Our God knows everything about us,
He knows every part of us, every characteristic,
every secret role we play, every hidden thing
we do.  Our God sees all of this, He knows all
of this, AND HE LOVES US ANYWAY!
Our God created us, He knows us, and on top
of all of this, He is our best friend.  He is our eternal
friend.  Our creator and best friend has given us
diverse traits and characteristics so that we can be
the people He wants us to be. 
OUR GOD HAS SEARCHED US, KNOWS US, AND
HE LOVES US.

Prayer:

Lord I joyfully acknowledge that You created me,
and I thank You for all that I am, even for the parts
of me that sometimes seem so undesirable. Thank
You God for loving all of who I am.

Scripture:

38For I am convinced that neither
death nor life, neither angels nor
demons,[a] neither the present
nor the future, nor any powers,
39neither height nor depth, nor
anything else in all creation, will
be able to separate us from the
love of God that is in Christ Jesus
our Lord.  (Romans 8:38-39) NIV


Reflection:

The Unconditional Love of God
Ron Walters

It's the mother lode of scripture,
the Hope Diamond of truth. It's
Fort Knox in a book. And every week
we're asked to stand in front and display
its dazzling beauty: "I have loved you
with a love that lasts forever, and with
unfailing love I've drawn you to myself."

It's the story of God's immeasurable
heart and incomparable love, offered
without strings and paid in full to an
undeserving and resistant people. No
one could have devised such a plan...
no one except God. It's so...like Him!

(How true the following words are)

I love to tell the story
of unseen things above,
of Jesus and his glory,
of Jesus and his love. 
I love to tell the story,
because I know 'tis true;
it satisfies my longings
as nothing else can do. 
Refrain:
I love to tell the story,
'twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.

2.    I love to tell the story;
more wonderful it seems
than all the golden fancies
of all our golden dreams. 
I love to tell the story,
it did so much for me;
and that is just the reason
I tell it now to thee. 
(Refrain)

3.    I love to tell the story;
'tis pleasant to repeat
what seems, each time I tell it,
more wonderfully sweet. 
I love to tell the story,
for some have never heard
the message of salvation
from God's own holy Word. 
(Refrain)

4.    I love to tell the story,
for those who know it best
seem hungering and thirsting
to hear it like (from) the rest. 
And when, in scenes of glory,
I sing the new, new song,
'twill be the old, old story
that I have loved so long.
(Refrain)