LEARNING TO PRAY A REFRESHING PRAYER—Day 1 (Monday)

Jul 11, 2022
2 min read

Psalm 39:1-5

I said, “I will guard my ways, lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked are before me.” I was mute with silence, I held my peace even from good; and my sorrow was stirred up. My heart was hot within me; while I was musing, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue: “Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah

If I want to be refreshed, I must let go of all the things that are bothering me and turn them over to God. If I don’t guard my ways, I will surely sin with my tongue by letting anger spew from my mouth.

When I allow my heart to get into this condition, it’s because someone is doing something I don’t like. My sorrow is stirred up because I’ve been bruised and offended. Sometimes it’s by someone I love, which makes the pain even worse. My heart grows hot because I’m holding on to the situation and not turning it over to God.

When I’m tired of musing over my problem, I finally speak, not to my attacker, but to God. “Lord, remind me how frail I am before You. Remind me of Your power and sovereignty over my life and over those who speak against this thing that’s bothering me.”

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS: In this mindset, I need to remember that it’s not the end of the world. I beg God to remind me of that and make me know my end. Every person at his very best is but a vapor, and all my arguments and musings will not change that.

I realize I’m not really angry at the person as much as his words which offended me. If the words had come from a person I love, I would be angry at his words, but I wouldn’t love them any less. Perhaps I need to ask if he knows I am hurt by his words. This would do wonders for healing my heart.

But, before I confront another, I need to turn this state of my heart over to God. My purpose in life is to honor God and not men. I can be angry at what others have said, or I can honor God for who He is. When I take my problems to God and ask Him to calm my heart, He will grant my request. Through Jesus Christ, I am given the power of refreshing prayer. It’s a powerful tool when I use it well and often.

Lord, keep my heart focused on You rather than my agenda and desires. Please calm my heart with Your refreshing prayer. Amen.

May you be blessed,

Chaplain Wayne Ruckman