PUT FRESH WIND IN MY SAILS
26th Aug 2020
The Bible I am currently using has NIV and Message in parallel. I tend to read the NIV first, then The Message which often renders the verse differently and causes me to go back to the NIV and think about the insights I have received.
I was reading in Psalm 50 and saw how much God hates ritualistic religion. He tells the Israelites, you have kept up your burnt offerings and sacrifices, the set piece stuff, but you have failed to be thankful, to rely on Me, or even ask for My help; also, you have failed to obey my moral law.
God wants relationship, reality, love and communication. He sent Jesus to be the Saviour, to enable us through Him to come into a living, loving relationship with the Godhead. He has made a way to cleanse us and forgive our sin, our self-reliance, our foolishness. The moment we confess our failure, He restores, forgives, heals and re-directs. We feel His love and mercy afresh and true praise, worship and thankfulness pours out of us. It’s this reality that our Father God desires.
Psalm 51 is written by David after his disastrous relationship with Bathsheba, another man’s wife. Lust led to murder, cover-up, lies and an abandonment of everything that David knew to be pleasing to God. God in His mercy opened David’s eyes, he knew he couldn't live without dependancy on God and this psalm gives us an insight into his restoration.
David prays, “Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life…..shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life…..breathe holiness in me…..put fresh wind in my sails. Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.” (Psalm 51 - The Message)
Turning to God, exposing your need of Him, confessing your sin and failure always allows Him to respond with compassion, mercy, love and grace and usually new instructions. Why would you miss out on a living fellowship and replace it with any form of ritual?
I want to live Micah 6:8, “To act justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with my God.”
“Father today, I want to live trusting You, thanking You, relying on you, and at all times turning to You. Knowing that apart from you I have nothing. Thank you for Your loving arms open to me and your ears attentive to my prayer.”
Use this strange time to strengthen your relationship with God - be real, be restored and be thankful.
by Joyce Sibthorpe
