an undivided heart

"Teach me your way, O LORD,

and I will walk in your truth;

give me an undivided heart,

that I may fear your name."

Psalm 86:11

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An undivided heart...... this is something that I would like to have as a new year's resolution, but I know that leaving it at that, as something up to me, that it would get nowhere. So instead I will leave it, as David did, as a prayer........ teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

favor

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,

because the LORD has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor"

Isaiah 61:1,2a

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"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men

on whom his favor rests."

Luke 2:14

tender mercy

"...because of the tender mercy of our God,

by which the rising sun

will come to us from heaven

to shine on those living in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet

into the path of peace."

Luke 1:78, 79

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Some beautiful words,

beautiful imagery,

and an even more beautiful reality.

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Thankyou Jesus!

He restores my soul

The LORD is my shepherd;
he restores my soul.
I shall not be in want;
he restores my soul.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he restores my soul.
He leads me beside quiet waters;
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his nake's sake;
he restores my soul.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death;
he restores my soul.
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
he restores my soul.
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me;
he restores my soul.
You prepare a table before me,
in the presence of my enemies;
he restores my soul.
You anoint my head with oil,
my cup overflows;
he restores my soul.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life;
he restores my soul.
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever;
he restores my soul.

He restores my soul.

I've been thinking about that phrase lately in connection with prayer, and it seems like restoring my soul is a big part of what God does as I rest before him in prayer at the end of the day. Throughout the day perspective is gradually lost in all of the busyness, worries, guilt, and just plain sin. But as I come before God in prayer, I am restored once again in knowing the reality of each of the other lines in this Psalm. That the LORD is my shepherd. That he goes with me; even preparing the way before me and supplying my needs. That his goodness and mercy will go with me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

He restores my soul.