#708 Empty Hands

To you, Lord, I call;
you are my Rock,
do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you remain silent,
I will be like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear my cry for mercy
as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
toward your Most Holy Place.


3 Do not drag me away with the wicked,
with those who do evil,
who speak cordially with their neighbors
but harbor malice in their hearts.
4 Repay them for their deeds
and for their evil work;
repay them for what their hands have done
and bring back on them what they deserve.


5 Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord
and what his hands have done,
he will tear them down
and never build them up again.


6 Praise be to the Lord,
for he has heard my cry for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him.


8 The Lord is the strength of his people,
a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
9 Save your people and bless your inheritance;
be their shepherd and carry them forever. Psalm 28 NIV

There is no more secure place, though the waves crash and the sky let loose, this is where the wise man builds and his house becomes the beacon that is seen afar off. 

16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.…Matthew 16: 16-18

You are my rock - Some think so highly of their ability to persuade that they think themselves game for replacing the Holy Spirit. The foundation of Peter's salvation was what God revealed to him. Most evangelicals no longer trust God for results and measure success by the amount of seats that are filled and money collected. Some churches think so far as to have hold of not just the means, the telling of the gospel, but of salvation itself. They have replaced God's word, "that salvation is of the Lord", and have sold tickets to a place where they do not have the authority to admit. The results they seek are best bought by saying what people want to hear. 

Lift up my hands - An act that should first take place in the heart, "I surrender all", and yet my hands are empty, because You will have to first give me anything worth surrendering. For now, this is all I have, my sin, my guilt and shame, and no ability to repay. A life constantly in prayer is consistently before the Lord. 

Who speak cordially - We all have encountered those who show a good face, who are outwardly kind yet bury you in their hearts. Some think it polished and even professional, there are cultures that say friend but only fatten you up for the kill, men who will praise you to your face which is not the truth of their actual intentions. 

Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be! 11 Can both fresh water and bitter water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.… James 3: 10-12

They have no regard - You were made yet you refuse to give credit where it is due. You smile at your neighbor's face but speak evil in your heart. God has left His law and the testimony of creation, yet you lift up your wickedness and praise your vices instead. You pretend at innocence, lie about intentions, and men being blind as they are may well reward you for your words, but God knows your heart. 

My heart leaps for joy - David does not pray just to console himself, a mature Christian prays without ceasing and our prayers change as we grow. We should come expecting to hear from God, not just to hear ourselves or that others might hear. It is not without hope that we come, and we come as His children. I have at times been accused of coldness, because I don't base what I believe about God or how I pray on my emotions and feelings, but contrary to popular opinion I experience wonderful emotions. Whereas I use to say, "I feel this way, so this is good, or Your words made me feel horrible so Your words are wrong," Now I read God's word and I know that it is good, and from there my faith is strengthened and my prayer is looking forward to His answer. It is the truth that truly sets you free and from that well come the most beautiful feelings and emotions, a river that will never run dry. The Psalmist was also able to say, "though You slay me, yet will I praise You." Once the heart changes the desires change with it. 

2You crave what you do not have. You kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures. 4You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.…James 4:2-4

Praise Him and whatever it is that plagues you, you will know He is more than able to see you through.