Calloused and bruised/ dazed and confused
My Spirit is left wanting something more
Than my selfish hopes/ and my selfish dreams
I’m lying with my face down to the floor
I’m crying out for more

Give me words to speak
Don’t let my spirit sleep
‘Cause I can’t think of anything worth saying
But I know that I owe You my life
So give me words to speak
Don’t let my spirit sleep

Every night, every day/ I find that I have nothing left to say
So I stand here in silence awaiting Your guidance
I’m wanting only Your voice to be heard
Let them be Your Words

I just don’t understand this life that I’ve been living
I just don’t understand 
I just don’t understand these lies I’ve been believing
I just don’t understand 

~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

Singer/ Songwriter: Aaron Shust

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Haven’t we all been there…that place where we have come to a crossroad?  We have to decide whether we are going to follow God or suppress the Holy Spirit within us.  When we do walk against the teachings of God we can find refuge in Him when we repent.

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Proverbs 4:23

What does the phrase ‘guard your heart‘ mean to you?  Does this promote an image of someone in armour welding a sword or perhaps putting a wall around your heart?  In the song Aaron says “I just don’t understand these lies I’ve been believing”…and I thought of David and Bathsheba  (2 Samuel 11-12).  David had decided to stay home while his troops were away at war. One evening, looking off his rooftop, he spied a woman bathing.  Instead of guarding his heart he let it be filled with lust and then thoughts of adultery.

I am sure,in his mind, he thought he would not get caught. Tthen when Bathsheba sent word she was pregnant, his thoughts turned to lying to cover up what had occurred.  David sent for her husband in hopes that Uriah would sleep with his wife.  When Uriah arrived, David sent him to be with his wife.  Uriah would not lie with her, instead sleeping in the doorway of his home.  When David realized his plan was not working he decided to rid himself of being found in adultery.  So he sent Uriah back to fight, with orders to the commander to put him at the front of the fighting and to remove themselves from Uriah so he would be killed.  There are several times here that King David could have listened to the Holy Spirit, but chose instead to ignore Him.

Our God is one who allows freewill. Once David took Bathsheba into his home, after the mourning period, he married her. Then she gave birth to their son. At this time, Nathan was the prophet. God sent Nathan to David with a story about two men, one rich, one poor. The story, as it unfolded, enraged David. Then Nathan told David that he was the rich man.  David was shocked.  He humbled himself and God was merciful to him, but God would take the life of the child and bring conflict within David’s family.  David did not become haughty and deny what he had done.  David was assured that his God is merciful and would not destroy him.

If David could be forgiven of what he had done…then how much more can we be forgiven if we only humble ourselves and seek God’s face!  We have the Scriptures to help us through the troubles that come against us. By guarding our hearts and thoughts, taking each thought captive, identifying it and naming what it is, we can become stronger and assist others who have similar circumstances.

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Father, we thank You for Your redemption.  We stand before You wanting to feel Your loving arms around us.  You are awesome in power and magnificence. Thank You for the history of our heritage.  Thank You for adopting us into Your family.  In Jesus’ name, Amen!