September 26, 2024

“1 ¶ «A Contemplation of David. A Prayer when he was in the cave.» I cry out to the LORD with my voice; With my voice to the LORD I make my supplication. 2 I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. 3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk They have secretly set a snare for me.” (Psalm 142:1-3 NKJV)

From my cave of despair I cry to the Lord

With my voice to God I cry to the Lord

For God cannot hear me if I don’t cry out

Prayerful question: Do I blame God for not answering prayers I never prayed?

September 25, 2024

“5 ¶ Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it. For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked. 6 Their judges are overthrown by the sides of the cliff, And they hear my words, for they are sweet. 7 Our bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave, As when one plows and breaks up the earth. 8 But my eyes are upon You, O GOD the Lord; In You I take refuge; Do not leave my soul destitute. 9 Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, And from the traps of the workers of iniquity. 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, While I escape safely.” (Psalm 141:5-10 NKJV)

It is better to be punished than die

It is better to be rebuked than die

Those who rebuke do me a favor

For God is my refuge and safety

Prayerful question: Do I pray for the humility to receive instruction and even punishment for my eternal good?

September 24, 2024

“1 ¶ «A Psalm of David.» LORD, I cry out to You; Make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. 2 Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. 3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. 4 Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice wicked works With men who work iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies.” (Ps 141:1-4 NKJV)

Please hear me God

Please come and help

Hear me when I cry

Please guard my heart

Prayerful question: Do II believe God hears and answers my prayers?

When God’s People Pray by Wayne Watson

Trouble knockin' on your window pane,
Stormy weather at your door.
And the outlook for the day ahead- just like the day before.
People tell you prayin' changes things,
But the words don't stop your fear.
Prayer is only pious rambling, without a Father's ear...

He will not turn away- when His people pray.

When God's people pray,
And take the pains of earth to the doors of heaven.
When God's people pray,
There is hope reborn, there is sin forgiven.
And miracles you can't explain away,
When God' people pray.

Hopeless situation turns around, dilemma passes by and by.
Look- there's a never-ending field of blue past your clouded sky!
He alone can know the need in me, before a single word begins;
The Holy Spirit intercedes for me.
I will trust in Him!

He will not turn away- when His people pray.

When God's people pray,
And take the pains of earth to the doors of heaven.
When God's people pray,
There is hope reborn! There is sin forgiven!
And miracles you can't explain away!
When God's people pray!
And take the pains of earth to the doors of heaven...
When God's people pray!
There is hope reborn, there is sin forgiven.
And miracles you can't explain away!

When God's people pray!
And take the pains of earth to the doors of heaven...
When God's people pray!
There is hope reborn! There is sin forgiven!
And miracles you can't explain away!

When God's people pray,
When God's people pray,
Oh, When God's people pray..

September 23, 2024

“8 ¶ Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; Do not further his wicked scheme, Lest they be exalted. Selah 9 “As for the head of those who surround me, Let the evil of their lips cover them; 10 Let burning coals fall upon them; Let them be cast into the fire, Into deep pits, that they rise not up again. 11 Let not a slanderer be established in the earth; Let evil hunt the violent man to overthrow him.” 12 I know that the LORD will maintain The cause of the afflicted, And justice for the poor. 13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; The upright shall dwell in Your presence.” (Psalm 140:8-13 NKJV)

Do not grant evil

Do not further evil

Destroy evil

Even my evil

Prayerful question: Do I realize how powerful and dangerous my prayer can be?

September 22, 2024

“1 ¶ «To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.» Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; Preserve me from violent men, 2 Who plan evil things in their hearts; They continually gather together for war. 3 They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; The poison of asps is under their lips. Selah 4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; Preserve me from violent men, Who have purposed to make my steps stumble. 5 The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords; They have spread a net by the wayside; They have set traps for me. Selah 6 I said to the LORD: “You are my God; Hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD. 7 O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle.” (Psalm 140:1-7 NKJV)

Deliver me God

Preserve me God

Keep me God

You are my salvation

Prayerful question: Do I give thanks and praise for the many ways God saves me, even from myself?

Are shadows memories

or do they use memories

Shadows do use trauma

Shadows do use shame

Shadows do use guilt

Shadows do use pain

Shadows do use doubt

Shadows are vampires

eating spiritual energy

eating emotional energy

growing stronger by this

as you are growing weaker

What will destroy shadows

Like vampires in legend

is it the cross

is it the Bible

is it a wooden stake

that destroys them

Only the One on the cross can

Only the One the Bible speaks us can

Only the One who created the wood can

Only the Lord God Almighty can

and will destroy the voracious shadows

September 21, 2024

“17 ¶ How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You. 19 Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God! Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men. 20 For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain. 21 Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? 22 I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:17-24 NKJV)

The thoughts of God are precious

They are beyond my counting

They are higher than I can know

They are wider than I can explore

Prayerful question: Does my prayer seek God’s solution which is beyond anything I can ask?

Is the boogeyman a shadow

Is a shadow the boogeyman

Both make you afraid of life

Both make you afraid to live

The darkness is alive with evil

The shadows are the least evil

They are still evil and deadly

Closets becomes places of fear

corners becomes places of fear

Under the bed evil waits for all

You may deride the shadows

You may deride the boogeyman

But if you don’t believe they are

No accepting makes you vulnerable

Ignorance is not bliss but deadly

Fear is God’s protection against evil

Fear can keep us safe from evil

The boogeyman will steal your soul

I will be afraid of what is around me

I will be afraid of what is within me

In the end all around and within dies

All has not been taken away from me

I have given it all away on my own

Is the boogeyman a shadow

Is a shadow the boogeyman

Or am I a shadow and the boogeyman

September 20, 2024

“7 ¶ Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; 12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. 13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.” (Psalm 139:7-16 NKJV)

God will not forgive or forsake me

in heaven

in hell

in the morning

in the seas

in the dark

God formed me and created me

God knows my inward being

God designs each day for me

As it is written so it shall be

Prayerful question: Do I praise the wonder, love and glory of God as I pray?

At first they danced beside me

Then they made small changes

Soon I changed to be together

Then I followed them…almost

I began to make little changes

But the shadows did not follow

Are they the shadows or am I

Am I a shadow of a shadow

I fall down and weep in despair

September 19, 2024

“1 ¶ «For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.» O LORD, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. 3 You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. 5 You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.” (Psalm 139:1-6 NKJV)

God has searched me

I am afraid

God has known me

I am afraid

God knows where I am

I am afraid

God knows where I’m going

I am afraid

God knows beyond my comprehension

I am afraid

I should trust in God

but I am afraid

Prayerful question: Do I acknowledge to God and myself my fear and anger at God myself and others?

The shadows swirl and seem to dance

they are mesmerizing and hypnotizing

they try to block out the Light of Life

they seek to destroy all that is good

and destroy our hope of God’s help

and destroy our hope of God’s hope

Will I seek God’s help and power

September 18, 2024

“6 ¶ Though the LORD is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar. 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. 8 The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.” (Psalm 138:6-8 NKJV)

The Lord dwells on high

yet the Lord came to earth

The Lord came into our trouble

and will resurrect and revive us

Prayerful question: Does my prayer look up to God to bring resurrection and revival to who call on Him?

The shadows seem strong

and so very destructive

I am helpless against

Have no hope against

Where is there help

Where is there hope

“I look unto God

for God is my help”

(No longer can I.)

September 17, 2024

“1 ¶ «A Psalm of David.» I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You. 2 I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. 3 In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul. 4 All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O LORD, When they hear the words of Your mouth. 5 Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, For great is the glory of the LORD.” (Psalm 138:1-5 NKJV)

I will praise you God with all I am

I will praise you God before Your enemies

We will sing forth the Way of the Lord

For God has made me bold to praise Him

Prayerful question: Does my prayer call me to praise God publicly so others will praise God also?

Sarcasm “It is not that shadows lie but they have their own version of the truth.”

September 16, 2024

“7 ¶ Remember, O LORD, against the sons of Edom The day of Jerusalem, Who -said, “Raze it, raze it, To its very foundation!” 8 O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed, Happy the one who repays you as you have served us! 9 Happy the one who takes and dashes Your little ones against the rock!” (Psalm 137:7-9 NKJV)

I long for revenge

Give it to God

I want to hate them

Give it to God

I am guilty also

Give it to God

Prayerful question: Does my prayer seek to have the heart of God in it?

Do you see them

Barely see them

The shadows are

They are here

All around us

Are they bad

Bad they are

Evil shadows

Want to hurt

Want to harm

They are evil

September 15, 2024

“1 ¶ «A Psalm of David.» I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You. 2 I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. 3 In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul. 4 All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O LORD, When they hear the words of Your mouth. 5 Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, For great is the glory of the LORD. 6 ¶ Though the LORD is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.” (Psalm 138:1-6 NKJV)

God has give all to me

I want to give all to God

God has given His heart to me

I want to give my heart to God

God has given His life for me

I want to give my life for God

Prayerful question: Do I pray believing God will answer me and trusting the answer is good for me?

September 14, 2024

“23 ¶ Who remembered us in our lowly state, For His mercy endures forever; 24 And rescued us from our enemies, For His mercy endures forever; 25 Who gives food to all flesh, For His mercy endures forever. 26 Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever.” (Psalm 136:23-26 NKJV)

God remembers our need

For His mercy endures forever.

God provides for our need

For His mercy endures forever.

Prayerful question: Do I pray expecting God’s mercy and provision?

Your name is who you are

to not forget who you are

you must hold onto your name

or you will never be the same

Shadows will steal your name

you will forget your own name

when you forget your name

you will never be the same

I once was Keene

then was Ramsey

but I have lost my name

so I will never be the same

September 13, 2024

“10 ¶ To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn, For His mercy endures forever; 11 And brought out Israel from among them, For His mercy endures forever; 12 With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, For His mercy endures forever; 13 To Him who divided the Red Sea in two, For His mercy endures forever; 14 And made Israel pass through the midst of it, For His mercy endures forever; 15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, For His mercy endures forever; 16 To Him who led His people through the wilderness, For His mercy endures forever; 17 To Him who struck down great kings, For His mercy endures forever; 18 And slew famous kings, For His mercy endures forever— 19 Sihon king of the Amorites, For His mercy endures forever; 20 And Og king of Bashan, For His mercy endures forever— 21 And gave their land as a heritage, For His mercy endures forever; 22 A heritage to Israel His servant, For His mercy endures forever.” (Psalm 136:10-22 NKJV)

For His mercy endures forever.

The firstborn of Egypt were killed

to set people free

The firstborn of God was killed

to set all people free

For His mercy endures forever.

Prayerful question: Do I daily give thanks in prayer for God’s eternal mercy?

September 12, 2024

“10 ¶ To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn, For His mercy endures forever; 11 And brought out Israel from among them, For His mercy endures forever; 12 With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, For His mercy endures forever; 13 To Him who divided the Red Sea in two, For His mercy endures forever; 14 And made Israel pass through the midst of it, For His mercy endures forever; 15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, For His mercy endures forever; 16 To Him who led His people through the wilderness, For His mercy endures forever; 17 To Him who struck down great kings, For His mercy endures forever; 18 And slew famous kings, For His mercy endures forever— 19 Sihon king of the Amorites, For His mercy endures forever; 20 And Og king of Bashan, For His mercy endures forever— 21 And gave their land as a heritage, For His mercy endures forever; 22 A heritage to Israel His servant, For His mercy endures forever.” (Psalm 136:10-22 NKJV)

For His mercy endures forever

Said it once listen to God

Said it twice hear God

Said it thrice must hear God

Said it more live in God

For His mercy endures forever

Prayerful question: Do I prayer for God’s eternal mercy to bless all?

A faint light shimmering

like a reflection off water

for a moment dancing

in the darkness of night

it is surprisingly disturbing

a shadow in the dark night

What does it mean

What does it portend

Should I care

Do I care

September 11, 2024

“1 ¶ Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 2 Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever. 3 Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever: 4 To Him who alone does great wonders, For His mercy endures forever; 5 To Him who by wisdom made the heavens, For His mercy endures forever; 6 To Him who laid out the earth above the waters, For His mercy endures forever; 7 To Him who made great lights, For His mercy endures forever— 8 The sun to rule by day, For His mercy endures forever; 9 The moon and stars to rule by night, For His mercy endures forever.” (Ps 136:1-9 NKJV)

Thanks God for being good

God’s goodness endures forever

Thanks God for being merciful

God’s mercy endures forever

Prayerful question: Do I seek God’s mercy for everyone everywhere as I pray?

September 10, 2024

“15 ¶ The idols of the nations are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands. 16 They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; 17 They have ears, but they do not hear; Nor is there any breath in their mouths. 18 Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them. 19 Bless the LORD, O house of Israel! Bless the LORD, O house of Aaron! 20 Bless the LORD, O house of Levi! You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD! 21 Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, Who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the LORD!” (Ps 135:15-21 NKJV)

Gold can not talk

Silver cannot walk

Idols don’t hear or see

Only God is alive you see

Prayerful question: Does my prayer communicate with the LIVING God?

September 9, 2024

“5 ¶ For I know that the LORD is great, And our Lord is above all gods. 6 Whatever the LORD pleases He does, In heaven and in earth, In the seas and in all deep places. 7 He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain; He brings the wind out of His treasuries. 8 He destroyed the firstborn of Egypt, Both of man and beast. 9 He sent signs and wonders into the midst of you, O Egypt, Upon Pharaoh and all his servants. 10 He defeated many nations And slew mighty kings— 11 Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, And all the kingdoms of Canaan— 12 And gave their land as a heritage, A heritage to Israel His people. 13 Your name, O LORD, endures forever, Your fame, O LORD, throughout all generations. 14 For the LORD will judge His people, And He will have compassion on His servants.” (Psalm 135:5-14 NKJV)

God is the eternal judge

God is compassionate

Is there a compassionate judge

God is a compassionate judge

Prayerful question: Do I recognize God is the judge I want most as I pray?

September 8, 2024

“1 ¶ Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD; Praise Him, O you servants of the LORD! 2 You who stand in the house of the LORD, In the courts of the house of our God, 3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; Sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant. 4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His special treasure.” (Psalm 135:1-4 NKJV)

I will praise the Lord

I must praise the Lord

I will sing my praise

I am pleased to praise

For the Lord deserved it

Prayerful question: Do I joyfully praise the Lord as I pray?