*PERSONAL NOTE: I am currently going through the Every Man a Warrior (EMAW) books with an amazing group of men that are part of my Real Men 300 men's group. I wasn't going to share these on here, even though they're quiet time, because they follow a completely different format than I prefer to do for my journaling. I am doing the quiet time for EMAW in this way because the program requires it, of course. This quiet time's format is below and as you can see is quite different than the S.P.A.C.E. method I've been using for my journaling. I'm not saying one is better/worse than the other, because either way you're still spending time with God and that's the important piece. I simply prefer the S.P.A.C.E. method of journaling my quiet time, so I'll be sticking with that. The reason I'm sharing this one specifically is due to the content involved. I don't believe I've ever read this specific Psalm in its entirety until now, yet somehow back in July when I went through a very deep and lengthy recovery and forgiveness prayer using the Forgiving Forward template, this was actually almost identical to part of that prayer that I shouted out to the Lord when I was at rock bottom. Due to how intense this Scripture hit my heart, I felt inclined to share this EMAW quiet time with the group. I may or may not share other EMAW specific quiet times (I'll leave that up to the Holy Spirit), but here's this one.
Psalms 142 (HCSB)
A Cry of Distress
A Davidic Maskil. When he was in the cave. A prayer.
1 I cry aloud to the Lord; I plead aloud to the Lord for mercy.
2 I pour out my complaint before Him; I reveal my trouble to Him.
3 Although my spirit is weak within me, You know my way. Along this path I travel they have hidden a trap for me.
4 Look to the right and see:
no one stands up for me; there is no refuge for me; no one cares about me.
5 I cry to You, Lord; I say, “You are my shelter, my portion in the land of the living.”
6 Listen to my cry, for I am very weak. Rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me.
7 Free me from prison so that I can praise Your name. The righteous will gather around me because You deal generously with me.
EMAW PERSONAL JOURNAL:
Major themes from all I read today: Although this world is extremely burdening to us, we often are struggling due to our self-inflicted prison because we do not seek and lean on the Lord with all that we are to break us free from our chains.
Best verse for the day: Psalm 142:5 I cry to You, Lord; I say, “You are my shelter, my portion in the land of the living.”
Ask Questions! Is there a...
- A command to obey?
- A promise to claim?
- A sin to avoid?
- An application to make?
- Something new about God?
Personal Comments: I personally found there to be a promise to claim, a sin to avoid, and an application to make. In this Scripture, our Father simply tells us to pour out to Him with all that we are, all that we struggle with, so that He may help us break free from our self-inflicted prison. We are to give all in our prayer, conversation, and relationship with the Lord so that we pass those struggles, pains, issues, and such onto Him and so that He may give us the wisdom, strength, peace, joy, and understanding to be able to take on anything this world wants to throw at us. Help me to lean on You through ALL things, Father. Help me to truly, emotionally, and purely pour out all that I am to You in our conversations and relationship so that I can lean on You fully as my refuge and the portion that gives me everything I need in this life to truly be a Godly man working for Your Will and Your Kingdom.
Emphasize key words or phrases:
- cry aloud
- mercy
- pour out
- reveal my trouble
- weak within me
- I cry to You
- my shelter
- my portion
- Listen to my cry
- I am very weak
- Rescue me
- Free me
- prison
- praise
Who: Me
What: Crying out to my Father in Heaven through prayer.
When: When I hit rock bottom (July 2021)
Where: Self-inflicted prison
Why: Because I couldn't face the realities of life that maybe I actually needed help and couldn't do this all by myself.
Rewrite best verse for the day in my own words: Father, help me realize and embrace that You are everything I need in this crazy world and that I cannot do this properly on my own.
Best thought: Pour out all that you are to the Lord, so that He is Your foundation through EVERYTHING in this life.
*DAILY NOTE: This was such a powerful read for me. Back in July I went through almost an entire day of a "Forgiving Forward" recovery prayer from my past. Almost identical words to what is written in this Scripture came out of my mouth for a portion of my prayers that day. God is so amazing. He gives us the words, even when we're struggling to speak, and then He reminds us of the things we did to make sure we do not lapse back into our old ways. Thank You so much for this reminder, Father. Thank You so much for keeping me on track and constantly reminding that Your way is better than my own.
*GENERAL NOTE: I always "sandwich" my quiet time with God in prayer and do it in a location that I will not have any distractions so that I can be focused on my quiet time with God. Do not worry about how short or long your journal entries are for that day's quiet time. Just focus on the actual quiet time and relational conversation with God through the Holy Spirit and His Word. The journaling is an enhancement to your quiet time conversation with God, but also to allow you to reflect on things later as you can look back on your journal entries later when you do the chapters again in the future to see how you have grown. See the FAQ for more detail on how I do my quiet time.
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