As we continue our study of being intentional, I have asked Patti Burkett to share on Psalm 73:28. Don’t miss this post on making God your Refuge.
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Tag: But as for Me
Doubting our Faith – Why Do the Wicked Prosper?
Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
Psalm 73:1-2
My Word of the Year is Intentional. As I began looking for a verse that I might claim, I kept finding verses where messengers of God said, “But as for me…” I thought, “These people are intentional in their lives. I want that”. So we will start looking at these scriptures. I have some friends helping me out and they are already stepping on my toes.”
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You May Feel Forsaken But God Will Uphold
My Word of the Year is Intentional. As I began looking for a verse that I might claim, I kept finding verses where messengers of God said, “But as for me…” I thought, “These people are intentional in their lives. I want that”. So we will start looking at these scriptures. I have some friends helping me out and they are already stepping on my toes.”
Let’s study Psalm 41, part two ~ Forsaken by Your Friends
We have looked at being a friend, but there are many chronic pain warriors who feel that their friends have forsaken them. Left them to die. Let’s read on…
5 But my enemies say nothing but evil about me.
“How soon will he die and be forgotten?” they ask.
6 They visit me as if they were my friends,
but all the while they gather gossip,
and when they leave, they spread it everywhere.
7 All who hate me whisper about me,
imagining the worst.
8 “He has some fatal disease,” they say.
“He will never get out of that bed!”
9 Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely,
the one who shared my food has turned against me.
Psalm 41:5-9
Forsaken by Friends
When I was first struck with chronic pain, friends came to my side to support my family and me. But as the days dragged on into months and years, fewer and fewer came to our aid. Very few asked about my health or how the family was getting along. In fact, the grumbling began about why I wasn’t pulling my weight in other areas of my life that I used to be quite involved in. It was not just true for me but for my husband as well. The church he pastored began to grumble about how he preached or that he wasn’t available to the people. He may have struggled in his preaching but he was always available to the congregation… just not at the office. He now worked from home which the board had agreed would be okay.
They didn’t question him about how we were doing they only accused him of being unable to fulfill his duties. It finally, came to a head when a few campaigned behind his back to oust him from ministry. This ended up causing him to take early retirement. Since we lived in a parsonage, we no longer had a place to live. And no way to pay for a home.
I Want Revenge
10 Lord, have mercy on me.
Make me well again, so I can pay them back!
11 I know you are pleased with me,
for you have not let my enemies triumph over me.
12 You have preserved my life because I am innocent;
you have brought me into your presence forever.
Psalm 41:10-12
But God, never let go of us. He provided for us and lead us to a safe place. We followed the example of Jesus. We didn’t try to defend ourselves. We quietly resigned and moved away. Although our family wanted revenge against them, we said that “vengeance belongs to the Lord. He will repay.” We knew we were innocent and had been faithful to God in everything.
It’s hard to walk away when you feel so hurt and deeply betrayed. But with God’s help, we were able to do it. God preserved our lives. Now 6 years later, He is still on the throne and we serve Him in new ways that we would not have thought of before.
Indeed,
As for me, You uphold me because of my integrity;
You allow me permanent access to Your Presence!
The Lord God of Israel deserves praise in the future and forevermore!
We agree! We agree!
Psalm 41:12-13 NET
Mandy
More Psalms for the Chronically Ill
Psalm of Mandy: a Pain Warrior’s Prayer
Psalm of Mandy: Prayer for Protection a Pain Warrior, continued
But As For Me and My Household
Today, let’s talk about “Me and My Household”
My Word of the Year is Intentional. As I began looking for a verse that I might claim, I kept finding verses where messengers of God said, “But as for me…” I thought, “These people are intentional in their lives. I want that”. So we will start looking at these scriptures. I have some friends helping me out and they are already stepping on my toes.”
Let me introduce a new friend, Barb Hegreberg…
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The Day of My Distress
My Word of the Year is Intentional. As I began looking for a verse that I might claim, I kept finding verses where messengers of God said, “But as for me…” I thought, “These people are intentional in their lives. I want that”. So we will start looking at these scriptures. I have some friends helping me out and they are already stepping on my toes.”
Today, we have a beautiful devotion by my sister. Kandy Chimento and her husband, Tony, live in Liberty Hill, Texas. They have spent many years in ministry together. Their greatest joys are their two amazing kids; Christa, and Tyler (and his lovely wife, Rebekah), and their two grandsons, Gideon & Jude. Kandy is the Director of Operations at a local Food Pantry & Resource Center, where she enjoys working with the hundreds of volunteers she manages, and the neighbors they assist.
So without further ado, my sister, Kandy…
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How to Pray in the Morning – David’s Reverant Prayer
But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house,
At Your holy temple I will bow in reverence for You.
Psalm 5:7 NASB 1995
My Word of the Year is Intentional. As I began looking for a verse that I might claim, I kept finding verses where messengers of God said, “But as for me…” I thought, “These people are intentional in their lives. I want that”. So we will start looking at these scriptures. I have some friends helping me out and they are already stepping on my toes.”
David was intentional about his morning prayers. It’s a goal of mine as well… to open my eyes and first call on God and look to Him. If I start my day with HIm, I can invite Him to stay and walk with me through the entire day. If I don’t I find myself dredging through the day on my own.
My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;
In the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.
Psalm 5:3 NKJV
Steps for David’s Morning Prayer
- Calls to God and recognizes Him as His God and King and there is no other. God wants us to come before Him in reverence and to recognize His Holiness. It is then that we realize our sinfulness. In the shadow of His Righteousness, we see that we are but a worm and we are humbled. Noting that God will not lend an ear to those who enjoy wickedness, he humbles himself before the great God of the Universe. And in this, he makes a firm stand that he will come into God’s house in fear and reverence
- He begs for guidance comparing the wicked to the righteous he sees that he needs God to direct his path. How can we face the day if not with His guidance? We are sure to go astray without Him by our side throughout the day. And friend, He will not come along uninvited. We must ask Him to lead us through our day. I believe if we try this pattern, we will be utterly blessed. We will find so many things going well rather than having to struggle at each turn of the day.
- He states that there is joy for all those who trust in God. Stating these facts makes it all real. God doesn’t necessarily need to hear these things but when we say them aloud we confirm in our own hearts that it is so. That’s why the gratitude journal is so important. Along with this morning prayer, I like to list at least three things I am grateful for. It refocuses our hearts on the Lord instead of our problems.
- Another declaration is that God will surround the righteous with His favor as if with a shield that covers their entire body. We can declare this because He has already promised to do it! It is David’s only request. You see, everything else will fall into place if we are guided by His Hand and surrounded as a shield by Heaven’s Armies.
In Conclusion
What a pattern for morning prayer! Declaring the righteousness of God and asking to be led on that very path. How could your day go awry when you have shielded yourself in His righteousness.
And, ah, now we see how to dress one’s self in the complete armor of God (Eph 6)
Don’t forget your Morning Prayers. Use Psalm 5 as a pattern for prayer until you find your own words of prayer.
-Mandy
Other As For Me Posts
Messenger of God – Jeremiah, Me, You
Wellness: Becoming Intentionally Evergreen
Other Posts On Prayer
Refresh Your Prayers: UNcommon Devotions on Prayer
Bible Study: The Prayer of Nehemiah
Will You Unleash the Power of Prayer and Fasting in Your Life?
Psalm of Mandy: Prayer for Protection a Pain Warrior, continued
But as for me—poor and in pain—
let your salvation protect me, God.
Psalm 69:15
This scripture jumped out at me since I can totally relate. Pain most of the time. And we live only on Social Security. Thank God for Medicare and Medicaid or we could not make it. Especially with inflation the way it is. This portion of Psalm 69 needed little change to apply to my life.
This is a paraphrase from Psalm 69, continued. [First part here] David had many times in his life when he felt he was drowning in troubles. This scripture jumped out at me as I read “poor and in pain”. I can relate to both of these entirely. When I read this psalm of David I can feel my own soul praying this prayer with just a few changed words. As you read it, you may understand some of the things that chronic illness causes in our lives. My words are in [ ]. Highlighted words link to another post I have written concerning the issue.
Mandy’s Psalm continued…
Answer me, Lord,
for your faithful love is good.
In keeping with your abundant compassion,
turn to me.
17 Don’t hide your face from your servant
for I am in distress. Answer me quickly!
18 Come near to me and redeem me;
ransom me because of my enemies.
You know my pain
19 You know the [pain] insults I endure—
my shame [flares] and disgrace [fatigue].
You are aware of all my adversaries [invaders of my health].
20 Insults [Unable to serve as I once did] have broken my heart,
and I am in despair. I waited for sympathy, but there was none;
for comforters, but found no one. [They came at first, but now, no one].
21 Instead, they gave me gall for my food,. [They say I don’t look sick and that I am making it up. This tastes like vinegar to me.]
and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink
Repay Them For What They Do
[ I’m a bit shocked when I read words like these from David, I am more inclined to ask God to open their eyes and understand my plight.]
22 Let their table set before them be a snare,
and let it be a trap for their allies.
23 Let their eyes grow too dim to see
and let their hips continually quake.
24 Pour out your rage on them
and let your burning anger overtake them.
25 Make their fortification desolate;
may no one live in their tents!
26 For they persecute the one you struck
and talk about the pain of those you wounded.
27 Charge them with crime on top of crime;
do not let them share in your righteousness.
28 Let them be erased from the book of life
and not be recorded with the righteous.
Prayer for Protection
29 But as for me—poor and in pain—
let your salvation protect me, God.
30 I will praise God’s name with song
and exalt him with thanksgiving.
31 That will please the Lord more than an ox,
more than a bull with horns and hooves.
32 The humble will see it and rejoice.
You who seek God, take heart!
33 For the Lord listens to the needy
and does not despise
his own who are prisoners.
Let God Be Praised for His Protection
34 Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and everything that moves in them,
35 for God will save Zion
and build up the cities of Judah.
They will live there and possess it.
36 The descendants of his servants will inherit it,
and those who love his name will live in it.
–Mandy
Follow my Journey with Chronic Pain
More About Fibro & Chronic Pain
Letters to Friends ~ How Are You Doing Since Your Diagnosis?
Letters to Friends ~ Why Are You So Tired?
A Day in the Life with Bettie G
What is Fibro Fog? Why are you Crashing?
Volunteer with Disabilities like Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain
Intentionally Boast in the Cross
But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world.
Galatians 6:14 csb
Who Wrote This to Whom?
Leon Morris wrote, “Galatians is a passionate letter, the outpouring of the soul of a preacher on fire for his Lord and deeply committed to bringing his hearers to an understanding of what saving faith is.” It was written to the Churches of Galatia. It is believed that this was about 15 years following Paul’s conversion on the Road to Damascus but before the council in Jerusalem. (since it was not mentioned in the letter) ‘Galatia’ covered the territory settled by the Gauls.” There is debate about whether the letter was written to northern or southern Galatia because Paul visited them both; however, it’s a moot point because this letter has much to say to all Christians.
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Messenger of God – Jeremiah, Me, You
My Word of the Year is Intentional. As I began looking for a verse that I might claim, I kept finding verses where messengers of God said, “But as for me…” I thought, “These people are intentional in their lives. I want that”. So we will start looking at these scriptures. I have some friends helping me out and they are already stepping on my toes.”
