MY INSIDES
Today's reading: Matthew 23-25

"You try to look like upright people outwardly, but inside your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness." Matthew 23:28 NLT

We are just about ten days into the forty days of Lent.

Lent is not one of the religious practices I usually recognize. It's not how I was raised. It wasn't used in the church I've grown up in, but I've been reading about it and studying what it is for my own purposes. I've been challenged by a few devotional writers using this season as a theme for their most recent writings.

What I used to think it was is not what it is intended to be. The focus I thought it brought is not the focus meant by its practices leading up to Easter Sunday.

I thought it was about people. What they would/could give up in order to bless God in some way. I was wrong.

It's about God. It's about making the time to notice what He has done for us. It's about holy He is and how holy we are not. It's about the sacrifice made for me.

It's about today's verse. It's about the inside of me. The heart of the matter. The deep down part of me that God sent His Son to save. It's about seeing myself as He sees me. It's about not taking for granted the enormity of His sacrifice and mercy.

It's about my insides. 

PREPARED
Today's reading: Isaiah 45-50

"...I have prepared you, even though you do not know me, so all the world from east to west will know there is no other God. I am the Lord, and there is no other." Isaiah 45:5-6 NLT

Not feeling very prepared for where you are right now?

-The chemo chair?
-The court room?
-The new job?
-The unemployment line?
-The ministry?
-The uncertain future ahead of you?
-The new bill that arrived in the mailbox?

It says in His Word-not in my own words, but His-that he has prepared us for the world to know about Him.

I believe that means in every situation we find ourselves in.

I believe that means every day of our lives.

I believe that means when we see Him--and especially when we don't.

He has prepared you, go forth and shine for Him! 

DOUBTS
Today's reading: Job 17-18

"The righteous will move onward and forward, and those with pure hearts will become stronger and stronger." Job 17:9 NLT

Words spoken by Job.

Job, the man God deemed righteous, godly, an example for others.

Job, the man drowning in sorrows, failing in health and surrounded by well-intentioned but condemning friends.

He knew his own heart. He knew the depth of his reverence for the Lord.  He knew down deep that he hadn't done anything to deserve this new life he was living.

We hear where his faith may have been tested as he spoke these words.

He wasn't going forward but falling further behind. He wasn't growing stronger but weaker. He wasn't seeing this fine statement of faith working out in his life. He, at this time, possibly saw no rewards or benefits of godly living. He wasn't seeing it take him anywhere. He wasn't seeing his faith take him farther or bless him more.

And still he did not doubt God. He did not doubt God's ways. He did not doubt God's wisdom. He did not doubt God's plans. He did not doubt God's ways. He did not doubt God's love for him. He did not doubt God's timing.

Can we say that? That we have doubts, but none that are centered on Him?

Man's faith may fail him sometimes, but God's faithfulness never fails him. -William Greenhill

PUBLICLY
Today's reading: Psalm 24-26

"I have taken a stand, and I will publicly praise the Lord." Psalm 26:12 NLT

I don't know what kind of Bible you read, but I love mine! It's a New Living Translation Life Application Bible. I've read it for almost 15 years now and still every morning, I find something new and eye opening. Either in God's words alone or coupled with the commentaries written for a lot of the verses.

Like this morning and this verse...

'Too often we complain about our problems to anyone who will listen and praise God only in private. How much better it would be for us to complain privately and to praise God publicly.'

That hit me where it hurts.

I don't consider myself a 'complainer', but I know if I polled those around me, they might think otherwise.

It got me thinking...

What if I praised God more and complained less?

About the family He has creatively placed me in.

About the neighbors He has selected for me to live beside.

About the job/mission field He has blessed me with.

About the church body He allows me to be a part of.

About the trials He has approved for me to walk through.

About the temptations He has wired me to have--and overcome with His help.

Today I'm taking a stand--I'm going to praise God more--and more loudly, and more publicly, and more excitedly!

By definition, a Christian should be a problem and an enigma to every person who is not a Christian.
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

NOTHING LEFT
Today's reading: Judges 17-21

"What do you mean, What do I want? Micah replied. You've taken away all my gods and my priest, I have nothing left." Judges 18:24 NLT

Maybe you've been where Micah stands today.

No, not in the northern quadrant of Judah, but in a spot where you feel as if you have nothing. A time in life when all has been taken. A space of time when you feel very, very vulnerable.

No job.

No marriage.

No health to speak of.

No security.

Nothing of comfort to you. No routine. No place to really rest, body or soul.

Maybe it's where you've led yourself. Poor choices. Bad decisions. Sins.

Maybe it's a place where God has led you. A place where alone and stripped of all that you hold dear, you see Him.

Just Him.

Sufficient Him.

Able-to-meet-all-your-needs Him.

Just where He needs you. Just where He wants you to be. Just what He desires you to know.

That He is enough.

Without a doubt in your mind that He is more than enough.

 

I GET IT
Today's reading: Genesis 32-35

"...There is no reason for you to be so kind to me, Jacob insisted." Genesis 33:15 NLT

I think I understand how Jacob felt as he reunited with Esau.

No, I don't 'get' the customs of the day, their intricacies and specifics.

No, I cannot fathom the depths of the family tensions.

No, I have not made such poor choices as to have felt the need to leave town and now return.

No, I cannot grasp a religious system that left little room for a personal relationship with a loving God.

What I do understand is what Jacob said about Esau's kindness--because I cannot understand how God can do for me what He's done and continues to do!

The sun to shine on my day?

The heart to beat in my chest?
 
The love that surrounds me?

The peace that calms me?

The joy that saturates my soul?

The blood that covers the multitude of my sins?

The relationship that enables me to stand before the throne of a Holy God

Oh God, there is no reason, no earthly or heavenly reason, for You to be so kind to me!

ACCEPTABLE
Today's reading: 1 Corinthians 1-2

"...He is the one who made us acceptable to God..." 1 Corinthians 1:30 NLT

We can stand before God's throne, if we're His, and speak to Him as a child speaks to its parent.

Boldly.

Honestly.

Unashamedly.

At any time.

In regards to any thing at all.

And it's possible because he made us acceptable, worthy to stand before the throne.

Nothing we did on our own. Not because of anything we've accomplished. Not based on the premise of our abilities or behavior.

He made us acceptable. His Son's blood has cleaned us up, covered our rags and has dressed us in garments worthy of an audience with the King of Kings.

ALL TO JESUS
Today's reading:  Matthew 20-22

"Here, show me the Roman coin used for the tax. When they handed him the coin, he asked, Whose picture and title are stamped on it? Ceasar's, they replied. Well, then, he said, give to Ceasar what belongs to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God. His reply amazed them, and they went away." Matthew 22:19-22 NLT

We took our paper work to the accountant's office last night for them to figure our taxes.

I've not gotten word back from her yet, but I'll guess 'Ceasar' is getting his fair share of what we've earned this year.  If not, we'll be cutting him a check.

I wonder...

Is God getting His fair share?

Is He getting the time owed Him?  The affections owed Him?  The attention owed Him?  The honor owed Him?  The service owed Him?  The whole-hearted worship owed Him?  The love and awe owed Him?

Accounting when I stand before the pearly gates may show I'll come up owing--grace will declare me 'Paid In Full'!

DO NOT
Today's reading:  Isaiah 40-44

"But now listen to me, Jacob my servant, Israel my chosen one. The Lord who made you and helps you says, O Jacob, my servant, do not be afraid. O Israel, my chosen one, do not fear." Isaiah 44:1 NLT

The One who has made and created us says there is no room for fear in our lives.

No room for fear, worry or doubt in our thoughts.

No place in the hearts He created within us to have any question as to His abilities and power!

None--because He has said. 

TAKE AWAY YOUR GRIEF
Today's reading:  Job 15-16

"I could say the same things you were in my place. I could spout off my criticisms against you and shake my head at you. But that's not what I would do. I would speak in a way that helps you. I would try to take away your grief." Job 16:4-5 NLT

I mail a lot of cards.

I shoot out a lot of texts.

I send a lot of emails.

Too many? Probably. Too few?  Probably, again.

But my attempts are in line with what Job was telling his friends he needed at the lowest point in his life...hope.

Maybe my cards will remind someone of the hope they know in Jesus. No new information, just a reminder. A verse they'd not read lately.

Quite possibly one of my texts will come at just the right time. Maybe it will be seen as a glimmer on a dark day. As helpful as an umbrella in a shower.

Hopefully my emails will take away some grief. Distract from the pain. Re-focus a heart on the goodness of God, instead of on the dire straits of the situation.  

And there is a very good possibility that something I write or say will not be the right thing. It will be taken wrong. It will hurt, not heal. It will add to the grief instead of take away.

May God use us as He can. May He shine in our attempts. May His ways override our own.

ALL...WILL
Today's reading:  Psalm 21-23

"...All who seek the Lord will praise him..." Psalm 22:26 NLT

All those who are running away now, when they stop and drop to their knees, will praise Him for never allowing them to run too far away.

All those who refuse Him today, when they realize the error in their ways, will praise Him for not turning His back on them.

All those who have wandered, when they bow down on that hog farm in a far away land, will praise Him for allowing prodigals to return.

All those filled with pride that keeps them from coming, once broken, will praise Him for His ability to change hearts.

All those who are sin-filled, when they seek His forgiveness, will praise Him for His mercy, love and grace.

All those who think they know all there is to know about God, when they discover another facet of Who He is, will praise Him for His greatness, His grandness, His sovereignty, and His magnificence.  

THE PARENTS' PRAYER
Today's reading:  Judges 12-16

"Then Manoah prayed to the Lord. He said, Lord, please let the man of God come back to us again and give us more instruction about this son who is to be born." Judges 13:8 NLT

As the mother of a man-sized boy, I can tell you this prayer is constantly on my lips.

I want to know more about raising our son the right way.

I have questions that no specific verse in the Bible answers.

I am confronted with making decisions that teeter between good and good.

Daily I come up against the fact that as much as he is like me--he is as different from me as night is from day.

I want to set him on the path that reaches God's purpose for his life, without getting my hands too much into it (I do not have a good track record there).

I want to make the most of every single minute I have with out smothering him and stunting his growth.

This job of man-growing is keeping me on my toes and on my knees. I know just how Manoah and his wife felt as they prayed for more instructions!

BUT...
Today's reading: Genesis 28-31

"Jacob called Rachel and Leah out to the field where he was watching the flocks so he could talk things over with them. Your father has turned against me and is not treating me like he used to, he told them. But the God of my father has been with me." Genesis 31:4-5 NLT

The doctors' diagnosis was not good...but God is with you.

The prodigal still hasn't returned from the far country...but God is with you.

The plans you made are unraveling by the day...but God is with you.

The requests you've been on your knees about remain unanswered...but God is with you.

Things may not be going well. The future may look dark and dreary. The attempts you make only seem to take you one or two steps backward.

But...and if you are His you can shout this from the rooftop--God is with you!

Nothing is too hard with Him.   

ATTITUDE OF CHRIST
Today's reading: Romans 15-16

"May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other--each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other." Romans 15:5 NLT

I don't know about you, but I have a hard time conjuring up a 'Christ-like' attitude toward some folks.

The ones who have hurt my feelings.

The ones who have embarrassed me.

The ones whose personalities clash loudly, violently and awkwardly with mine.

The ones who, and I cannot prove it with a verse, aren't doing what I believe in my heart they should be doing--or are doing some things I don't believe they should. 

Petty, you say? God's church should be based more on wearing our feelings on our sleeves and going beyond disagreements over the small things, you argue. We're all supposed to be a bunch of Jesus-filled adults here, right?

You and I both know it's easier said than done.

But this morning, as I look deeper at this verse and see the words, 'with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward each other', I am convicted to put some things down, try harder and focus more on what sins I may be harboring in my own heart.

I'll not be held accountable for whether or not they had Jesus' attitude, but on whether or not I did.

And that scares me enough to watch my walk more closely.  To handle my emotions in a more godly way. To stop satan in his tracks when he brings it all up again.

  

LITTLE ONES
Today's reading:  Matthew 17-19

"Beware that you don't despise a single one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father." Matthew 18:10 NLT

If you've worked around small children your mind immediately pictures a small tot for whom Jesus is referring.

The one that won't sit in their seats.

The one that won't listen.

The one that is harder to keep.

The one that doesn't seem to have working ears.

If you've worked around grown ups, you realize there is nothing different in their similarities!

As a Mom, I should remember that.  My big, man-sized 14 year-old is still my baby. I'm not sure how old, or how tall, he'll have to be before that changes.

So as you go out into the world today, hoping to share God's love--remember this:  Everyone is someone's little one! 

COME AS YOU ARE
Today's reading:  Isaiah 34-39

"When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the Temple to pray." Isaiah 37:1 NLT

For a king to wear sackcloth is equivalent to someone today going without make-up.

It showed he was distraught. It showed he was repentant. It showed he was broken. It showed he needed God more than he needed the royalty his crown and robes afforded him.

Maybe it's time more of God's people came to church that way.

I'm not talking about the make-up...but the heart issues.

If more of us would come with hearts filled with sorrow over sin--what kind of service would we have?

If more of us would come empty from having poured ourselves out to God--what kind of service would we have?

If more of us would come humbly, instead of made-up and dressed-up--what kind of service would we have?

If more of us showed up raw, hearts pruned from time spent in His presence, at His feet, being corrected by our God--what kind of service would we have?

If more of us showed up as He wanted us to show up, just as we are--what kind of revival would begin in our hearts, in our churches, in our world?

IN AWE OF HIM
Today's reading:  Job 13-14

"Doesn't his majesty strike terror into your heart? Does not your fear of him seize you?" Job 13:11 NLT

This verse reminds me of how very carefully we need to view God. How 'humanized' we've made Him. How trivial or common we've allowed Him to become.

He is more than a good-ole-boy kind of friend. He is more than a wish-granting genie. He is more than a checking-his-list-twice Santa figure. He is more than a talisman stored in the pockets of our heart. More than a lucky rabbit's foot we caress in tough times. He grace, love and mercy are more prized than the penny found heads up on the ground. He is greater than a teacher giving gold stars for good behavior.

I believe He is someone to be feared.

Who He is should scare us into holiness.

We should be awed by the privilege of being allowed into His presence.

We should be overwhelmed by His far reaching powers.

We should be humbled.

We should be scared to death, and far away from hell, of being separated from Him.

He is so much more, so so much more, than we have allowed Him to become to our heads and hearts.  

HOW HE RESCUES
Today's reading:  Psalm 18-20

I don't usually offer you such a large section of Scripture, but after reading through each verse you'll know there was no good place to stop.

"¹ I love you, Lord;
you are my strength.
² The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.
³ I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and he saved me from my enemies.

⁴ The ropes of death entangled me;
floods of destruction swept over me.
⁵ The grave^[a] wrapped its ropes around me;
death laid a trap in my path.
⁶ But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;
yes, I prayed to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary;
my cry to him reached his ears.

⁷ Then the earth quaked and trembled.
The foundations of the mountains shook;
they quaked because of his anger.
⁸ Smoke poured from his nostrils;
fierce flames leaped from his mouth.
Glowing coals blazed forth from him.
⁹ He opened the heavens and came down;
dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.
¹⁰ Mounted on a mighty angelic being,^[b] he flew,
soaring on the wings of the wind.
¹¹ He shrouded himself in darkness,
veiling his approach with dark rain clouds.
¹² Thick clouds shielded the brightness around him
and rained down hail and burning coals.^[c]
13 The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded
amid the hail and burning coals.
¹⁴ He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies;
great bolts of lightning flashed, and they were confused.
¹⁵ Then at your command, O Lord,
at the blast of your breath,
the bottom of the sea could be seen,
and the foundations of the earth were laid bare.

¹⁶ He reached down from heaven and rescued me;
he drew me out of deep waters. " Psalm 18:1-16 NLT

 

I don't know how God has chosen to rescue you lately-maybe it's been through an amazingly miraculous set of circumstances as David has listed.  And maybe it's not been such an earth-shaking show of His power.

 

Was it a gentle breeze He allowed to blow across your hot, tired face? A softly spoken word of encouragement? The melody of an old hymn? A hand-written note among the bills found in the mailbox? A smile? A brief respite from the pain? A glimpse of the sun peeking through the clouds?

 

How He rescues us is as wonderfully loving as He is.

 

Watch for His rescue to come today--an a variety of ways!  

DON'T FORGET
Today's reading: Judges 7-11

"They forgot the Lord their God, who had rescued them from all their enemies surrounding them." Judges 8:34 NLT

You're not one of those, are you?

You know the kind of person I'm talking about...

-the kind who is struggling with the 'what ifs' and the 'what will I dos'?

-the kind who is worried, wringing your hands-worried.

-the kind who isn't sleeping for fear of the future.

-the kind who doubts God even hears.

Shame on you!

He has rescued you before--and He will do it again!

He has not left your side, your enemy will not defeat you, you have the strength He believes you need.

Do not forget!

NOW
Today's reading: Genesis 24-27

"Jacob replied, All right, but trade me your birthright for it. Look, I'm dying of starvation! said Esau. What good is my birthright to me now?" Genesis 25:31-32 NLT

Esau, and his stomach, were focused solely on the here-and-now, and nothing beyond.

Our microwave generation understands that. What we want, we want now. What we have today, we spend instead of putting aside some for tomorrow. What we feel like doing, we do--giving little thought to consequences.

Maybe, just maybe, you're going through something that was unsuspected, unasked for, unwanted or undeserved. Maybe what's going on leaves you with unease, unrest and unwarranted ridicule.

Maybe it's not just for now.

Remain faithful as God pieces together the tough times with the blessed times to weave a godly life for you.

Look past today--towards eternity. Eternity, when this bump in the road will be forgotten.       

ANOTHER REASON
Today's reading:  Romans 13-14

"Another reason for right living is that you know how late it is, time is running out..."  Romans 13:11 NLT

Why live righteously?

Well, God asks us to.

As His, it's a proper response.

The Bible tells us things, eternally if not here, will go better for us.

It serves your family, your church, your community when you live a godly life.

As 'little Christs', it's an advertisement we should be living out in our daily lives.

And, as stated in today's verse, the time is running out.

One quick glance over the obituaries tells you death is no respecter of age. Do you know how much longer you have? How many more opportunities you might be given? How many more hours the story of your life will run?

WHOSE TRADITIONS
Today's reading:  Matthew 14-16

"Why do your disciples disobey our age-old traditions? they demanded. They ignore our tradition of ceremonial hand washing before they eat." Matthew 15:2 NLT

I'm going to be on the look-out tomorrow in church for the traditions of man and the traditions of God.

I'm going to be self-exploring my own motives as I walk through the postures of worship with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

I'm going to step into service wide-eyed as to what I've made it--and what He has always wanted it to be.

I don't want it to be about 'our' traditions, but about God.

WHO AM I TRUSTING?
Today's reading:  Isaiah 29-33

"...You have put your trust in Pharoah for his protection. But in trusting Pharoah, you will be humiliated and disgraced." Isaiah 30:2-3 NLT

I don't know in whom, or in what, you place your trust.

Let me venture a guess as to what it might be...

-your finances.
-a steady job.
-your health.
-your physical appearance.
-your 'name'.
-your Martha Stewart kept home.
-your abilities.
-your doctors.
-your spouse.
-your plans.

Isaiah told Judah they were spinning their wheels trusting anything or anyone other than God.

Sure, God might not have been moving according to their plans. He may not have answered in ways they thought He needed to answer. His commands might have taken some of the comfort out of their lives and called for some effort on their part. His demand of respect might have made those who followed Him looked out of place--different. What He asked of them may not have been easy.

But to know it would save them embarrassment, disgrace and humiliation? Wouldn't it have been worth giving it a try?

Isn't it? For us? For the things He is asking us to trust Him in? For the paths He is calling us to walk? For the issues He is asking us to take a stand on--or the issues He is asking us to let go of?

OH, CHURCH
Today's reading:  Job 11-12

"If only you would prepare your heart and lift up your hands to him in prayer!" Job 11:13 NLT

Oh, Church--

We're so much like Job's should've-kept-quiet friends.

We think we know what's needed.  We think we know how another can 'fix' their problems. We think we have their sins all figured out. We think a quick prescription of more confession will fix any drowning soldier. We think we see the whole picture. We think we can straighten the issues out. We think since we've experienced it, lived through it, never dealt with it or have stuffed it so far down inside us without anyone knowing, we have the answers.

We don't have a clue.

At any point, I'd love to have told any of Job's friends--refer back to the beginning of Job's book.

Verse 1-There was a blameless man. One of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil.
Verse 5-This was Job's regular practice to offer sacrifices for his children.
Verse 8-Have you seen my servant Job, said God.

Sometimes, a lot of times, most times, it's not about what we see.

We don't have God-eyes. We don't know the plan and purpose God has set in motion. We don't know the lessons needing to be learned, the pages of testimony needing to be written or the purifying of hearts and wills needing to be done.

We just don't know--and since we don't know, our best route to take is one led by God and God alone. No appraisals of the situations. No reports on what we think we understand. No advice given that isn't based solely on the Word of the Lord. No opinions. No quick retorts. No church-lingo quotes or one-liners.

When we think we know what's best, our best bet might be to pray about it a little more before saying it out loud.

IT'S THE BIG DAY
Today's reading:  Psalm 15-17

"Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways..."  Psalm 17:7 NLT

Ever had a night when you couldn't sleep because the next day promised to be so full of excitement?

The night before Christmas?

The night before your wedding?

The night before your little boy would make his arrival into the world?

You can't drift off to sleep. You can't turn your brain off. You can't think of counting sheep because the day ahead beckons you. You can't stop watching the clock which seems to have quit working. You just cannot wait till the morning comes and the thrills begin.

Do we anticipate God's love, goodness, mercy and grace to the extent that we cannot wait for morning to arrive and His gifts be poured out on us? Do we ask Him to amaze us? Do we pray His presence into our lives, our days, our thoughts?

What a thrill to know that in the span of the next twenty four hours He will show us how very much He loves us--and we don't have a clue as to how He might do it.

Oooh, oooh, oooh, I just cannot wait!

TOUGH STUFF
Today's reading:  Judges 1-6

"But when Sisera fell asleep from exhaustion, Jael quietly crept up to him with a hammer and a tent peg. Then she drove the tent peg through his temple and into the ground, and so he died." Judges 4:21 NLT

I will guess there was never a moment in our strong heroine's life when she prayed, Yahweh--allow me to drive a tent peg into the skull of the enemy captain and rescue my people!

I would believe she would have never guessed her day might have turned out as it did.

I don't know what training, other than helping set up and take down the tents as her nomadic tribe traveled from spot to spot, she had.

Regardless, God enabled her to do something tough. She did it. The enemy was defeated.

And now it's our turn...

Today there will be an enemy attack on our hearts, minds and lives.

Will we-despite what we know, how we've trained (or not), or what we've asked for, allow ourselves to do the tough stuff with God's help?

Will, at the end of today, our enemy be incapacitated--or stronger than ever?

LAYING IT DOWN
Today's reading:  Genesis 20-23

"Lay down the knife, the angel said. Do not hurt the boy in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld even your beloved son from me." Genesis 22:12 NLT

I don't know what your 'Isaacs' are, I'm not even going to ask.

I know what a few of mine happen to be. They have faces. They have names. They have permanent spots in my heart. They have a history with me. They are a part of me.

I also know what it is to struggle with laying them at His feet at all.

I still have a few I'm clinging desperately to.  A few things I hear Him asking for, but I cannot/will not yet let out of my grasp.

I hold tightly.

I offer substitute after substitute for what it is He is really asking me for.

I lay my 'Isaac' down, only to pick it up again-lay it down, pick it up, lay it down, pick it up.

I even pretend not to hear what it is God is asking for.

'Isaacs' are hard to lay down...even harder to leave in God's hands.

But when we do. When we truly do give them to God, He knows we truly fear Him. He senses the trust He is wanting to establish. He knows you believe Him for the promises He gives and the future He holds.

It's time we lay a few more 'Isaacs' down and trust God to grow our faith. 

A TOUGH PRAYER TO PRAY
Today's reading:  Romans 11-12

"...Let their bountiful table become a snare,
a trap that makes them think all is well.
Let their blessings cause them to stumble.
Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see,
and let their backs grow weaker and weaker."
Romans 11:9-10 NLT

David was speaking of those who refused to know God. The unrepentant. The heathen. The ones who had set their hearts and minds against God. The ones outside the circle of God's love.

He was asking God to wake them up. To shake them up. To strip them of everything that could be distracting their focus from Him. To do something radical to get their attention, and their hearts.

It's a tough prayer to pray.It's a scary prayer to pray. It's a life-changing prayer to pray.

It's a necessary prayer to pray.

Until any one of us comes to the realization that He is all we have, He is all we need, He is all the hope we'll ever receive, we're hopeless.

And this prayer has the potential to break the chains of hopelessness.