Worshiping The Faithful God

(Note: St. Augustine is famous for writing a book called “The Confessions,” which he wrote completely as a prayer to God. In the same spirit, I plan to write these posts as a prayer to God.)

“But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you. Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.” (Psalm 5:7–8, ESV)

But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house.

Heavenly Father, I can’t thank you enough for your steadfast love; your love passed down from generation to generation; your promise-keeping love. You are a faithful God who will never leave me nor forsake me. You do not sprinkle your steadfast love on me in droplets but dump bucket-fulls on my head in abundance. I enjoy the downpour of your steadfast love in my life. You are generous in all you do for me. Thank You!

Father, I also know that it’s through your steadfast love that I’m able to enter your presence. It’s only through the blood of Jesus Christ that I have access to you. What a blessing! I no longer have to worry about you standing far away and being difficult to reach. Through Christ, I can come into your presence whenever I need you…and you are there. 

I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.

Father, once I enter your presence, I am quickly made aware of your beauty and majesty. They bring me to my knees in worship. I begin to see you more clearly for who you are and what you’ve done, which stirs my heart in deeper worship. My lips open in praise of your beauty and power and might. I lay my life more fully in your faithful, loving, capable hands. I trust you with every aspect of my life. I rest in the joy of your presence. 

Father, I know this is what it looks like to fear you. A proper fear of you does not drive me away from you—never—but draws me nearer to you. Help stir my heart to more fully live in fear of you. Help that proper fear of you to cause me to walk in wisdom—to live rightly in this world. Father, stir my heart to more fully worship you in every aspect of my life: to praise you more fully, to give myself to you more fully, to trust you with every step, and to enjoy you. 

Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.

Father, it can be so difficult to know which way to walk in this world. There are people on every corner trying to lead me astray—using lies and deceit, tempting me to follow them. It’s so easy for me to be led astray. I even lead myself astray—with my sinful nature deceiving me. I have enemies around me and enemies within me, all trying to lead me away from you down a path toward destruction. 

Father, that’s why I need you every second of every day. If I didn’t have you, I would have wandered off into a mess a long time ago. Yet, your faithful guidance continues to pull me back onto the right path. You continue to pull me out of the pits I stumble into and place my feet back on the path. Thank you.

So, Father, I continue to ask for you guidance over each step I take. I need you to lead me. I need you to make your path clear before me. If it’s not clear, I’ll find a way to get lost. So, Father, make the path straight before me and then lead the way. Help me keep my eyes on you as I walk. Help me put my feet in your footsteps. I know that you are good and trustworthy. So, I trust you, keep my eyes on you, and keep going wherever you lead me.