Praying Between the Fall and the Final Restoration

Day 23:  Psalms 14:1-7

                Psalm 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works. There is none who does good.

                O God, the heavens declare Your glory. The hearts of men were made to know You are God and to see Your glorious attributes in creation and in our hearts, but due to our sin we deny that You rule and reign. Sadly, there is some of this foolishness remaining in Your children. We do know You are there, but at times we are like “practical atheists.” We do not seek You, worship You, or act as if we needed You. Yet, O Lord we desperately need You.

                We are corrupt. We have had abominable thoughts and have done what we should not. Even the best of our good deeds is tainted with some of our residual fallen nature.

                And Lord, we live in a world where the majority do not know You at all. They are fully corrupt and need Your redemption. Help us, help me, to help them by the power of Jesus Christ risen from the dead, the instruments of Your Word, Your Holy Spirit, Your church, and whatever other resources You supply, O Lord.

                Psalm 14:2 The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are who understand, who seek God. 

                Lord, You see not only our actions, but our hearts and souls as well. You know the imaginations and desires of our inner being. We do not seek You as we should. Forgive us, O Lord. Create in us ever new hearts.

                Psalm 14:3 They have all turned aside. They have together become corrupt. There is none who does good. No, not one.

                Lord, they have gone their own way. We have gone our own way. We do not seek after You as we should. If left to ourselves, we would never have followed You. It is only Your grace and mercy that have saved us.

                Psalm 14:4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call on the Lord.

                Lord, in spite of our fallen nature; You have redeemed Your children and there is a marked difference between those who do call on You and those who do not call on You. Those who do not know You attack Your people with no consideration of what they are doing or the consequences they will incur.

                Psalm 14:5 There they are in great fear for God is with the generation of the righteous.

                In contrast to the workers of iniquity who have no knowledge of God, we see our desperate need of You, God, Your forgiveness, mercy, and grace. We recognize that You are the Sovereign God and ruler overall. We see that Your power and majesty, glory and strength are more amazing than the thunder of the waterfalls, the strength of the mountains, the power of lightning, the force of the sun, moon, and stars, indeed of all the universe. We are in holy awe of Your glory, Your justice, Your supreme power that You have begun to reveal to us. We believe not only that You exist and that You reward those who truly seek You by faith (Hebrews 11:6).

We may be humbled before governors and leaders of state, business, or other human achievements, but, Lord, there is none like You. You are the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and End, the One who was and is and will ever be. You are God, righteous and holy, yet also loving and kind. You overwhelm us with the wonder of who You are. As the Israelites trembled before Mount Sinai (Exodus 19: 14 – 25; Heb 12: 18 – 29), so we tremble before You in holy love and godly fear. Even John, who the Lord loved (John 19: 26 & 27), fell in godly fear and worship as He came before the glorified Christ (Rev 1: 12 – 18). You, O Triune God, are more incredible than we have ever realized. While You love us with an everlasting love, You are also just and holy and incredibly powerful. Those who are blind cannot see this, but You have opened our hearts and our spiritual eyes to begin to see how incredible You truly are and it takes our breath away!

You protect Your people as the apple of Your eye (Deut 32: 9 & 10). God will deal with those who seek to lay a hand on God’s anointed.

                Psalm 14:6 You shame the counsel of the poor but the Lord is his refuge.

                Lord, the poor among us – the faithful poor, the godly poor, are attacked by the wicked, but You give them strength. You give them protection.  Help us to help them, O Lord. Help us have the same compassion You revealed to us on earth as Your Son, our Savior, and Lord lived among us. Show us the path forward and help us work for it with Your strength. Help us to care for those who are needy, lonely, troubled, comforting with the same comfort You have used to comfort us (II Cor 1: 3 & 4).

                Psalm 14:7 Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come, out of Zion, when the Lord brings back the captivity of His people. Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.               

                How we long and groan with the rest of creation for the day when God’s Kingdom is completely restored and fulfilled(Rom 8: 19 – 21). Please, Lord, let us long for, pray for, and work for the day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  We long for heaven, for the day Christ will come and make all things new. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20).