PRAYER’S OPENING PLEA

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. Psalm 25:1

Psalm 25:1 is not an easy thing to do. On occasion, in my daily devotions, I can climb the Delectable Mountains and see the Celestial City shimmering on the horizon. Too often, though, Isaiah has a better description of my devotional prayers to God—“… this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me…” Too often my wildly imaginative, undisciplined mind flits hither and yon as I mouth familiar words. It is a mockery of our Holy God to lift our pleas to heaven with our minds bogged down in earthly mire. An ancient poet said, “In vain to heaven we lift our cries, and leave our souls behind.” My prayer closet is my predawn living room long before my bride arises and there is nary a single exterior distraction, but the devil with regularity launches a full frontal assault on my thoughts, and sometimes I can mouth amen and not remember what I just prayed.  I need Divine intervention to lift my soul to heaven and hold it there. I can no more lift my soul by my own power than I can stand in a bucket and lift myself by the handle. I’m trying to make this cry of my heart my focused opening petition:

O God,
In Jesus’ name I make my prayer,
Lift up my soul and hold it there. 
Its weighted down by worldly cares,
Unfettered pride and lustful snares.

Incline my will to seek your face,
Block carnal thoughts with your embrace.
Without your grace my case is dire.
My hope is in your mighty power.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).

See you in church.

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