The Upper Room Daily Devotion – Wednesday, 8 January 2014 “Dead Zones” Read Psalm 32

The Upper Room Daily Devotion – Wednesday, 8 January 2014 “Dead Zones” Read Psalm 32: The Joy of Forgiveness

Of David. A Maskil.

1 Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,

    whose sin is covered.

2 Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity,

    and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3 While I kept silence, my body wasted away

    through my groaning all day long.

4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;

    my strength was dried up[a] as by the heat of summer.Selah

5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you,

    and I did not hide my iniquity;

I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”

    and you forgave the guilt of my sin.Selah

6 Therefore let all who are faithful

    offer prayer to you;

at a time of distress,[b] the rush of mighty waters

    shall not reach them.

7 You are a hiding place for me;

    you preserve me from trouble;

    you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.Selah

8 I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;

    I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

9 Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding,

    whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle,

    else it will not stay near you.

10 Many are the torments of the wicked,

    but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.

11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous,

    and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

Footnotes:

a. Psalm 32:4 Meaning of Heb uncertain

b. Psalm 32:6 Cn: Heb at a time of finding only

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away. . . . Then I acknowledged my sin to you. . . .and you forgave the guilt of my sin.(Psalm 32:3, 5 (NIV))

Some years ago, I planned to visit friends in a rural area. I estimated my arrival time and told them I would call on my cell phone as I neared their house. “Fine,” they agreed. “But don’t try to call when you are crossing the bridge over the Mississippi River. You can’t make connections there; it’s a real dead zone.” Recently, I’ve been doing a study on prayer. As I meditated on the truth of God’s word, I realized that I have “dead zones” in my prayer life. These are areas that I don’t want to bring before God because I don’t really want God to change me. Perhaps it is a minor bad habit I rather enjoy; or maybe I’m afraid the struggle to overcome a particular sin, even with God’s strength, would be too much of a challenge for me. I then become content to live with the sin, telling myself I’ll ask God to deal with it later. Because I’m unwilling to turn these parts of my life over to God’s healing power, my communication with God is hindered — not only in that area but also throughout my prayer life. As I prayerfully turn these dead zones over to God, I am cleansed and renewed.(The Author-Lisa Stackpole (Wisconsin, USA))

Thought for the Day: What parts of my life have I not brought to God?

Prayer: Dear Father, give us the courage to turn every aspect of our lives over to you. Amen.

Prayer focus: Those with unconfessed sin

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