Page 55 - Psalms Ebook

How often we need a plain path. We are confused; we have a decision to
make; we do not know what to do. “A plain path because of my
enemies”. I have enemies out there that want to keep me from the will
of God. I also have enemies in here that want to keep me from the will
of God. And so I just pray Psalm 27:11. “Lead me in a plain path
because of my enemies.”

Psalm 86:11. Did you ever feel your heart pulling in two directions at
once? You say, I really want to do God’s will, but I really want to do my
own will. I have my own agenda, and I want to do my own thing. I
come to Psalm 86:11 It says,

“Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth;
(and here is the prayer), Unite my heart to fear Your name.”

Isn’t that an interesting prayer? Why does he say “unite my heart?”
Because my heart is divided. I want to go in two directions. Lillian can
confess to you how many times I have prayed that. “Unite my heart to
fear Your name.” I do not want to go in two directions. I want God’s
will. And so I hope you are seeing how helpful these short little prayers
can be to express your heart to the Lord. There are hundreds of them in
Psalms! 119:37. This one is starting to get a little mileage on it, too.

“Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity.”

Isn’t that a great little prayer? “Turn away my eyes from looking at
vanity.” You see, I could pray that right on the spot. I do not have to
wait until Sunday morning or Wednesday night prayer meeting or
bedtime to pray that. Turn on the TV and some sexy ad flashes in front
of you – “Turn my eyes away from beholding vanity.” One of these get
rich quick schemes are brought into your life –“Turn my eyes away from
beholding vanity.” I have tried to memorize a lot of these Psalms, and
they have become a part of my life, a part of my prayer life. I think we
would miss a lot in Psalms if you miss these short, pointed, direct,
inspired prayers. Why did God put hundreds of them in there? I think to
help us.

Lillian wishes I would pray Psalm 141:3 more often,

“Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; Keep the doors of my lips.”

One reason she would like to see that take place is she thinks sometime I
push my own agenda and ride my hobby horse in teaching rather than
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