The Heart Of Jesus

February 7

READ Psalm 22:9–18.

9 Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.

10 From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
11 Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.
12 Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
13 Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me.
15 My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 Dogs surround me; a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet.
17 All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me.
18 They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.

 

THE HEART OF JESUS. This psalm of David poses a puzzle. The speaker’s hands and feet are pierced (verse 16), his bony frame exposed (verse 17) as he experiences fatal dehydration (verse 15). This is not describing illness or persecution but rather an execution. Nothing like this ever happened to David, and the usual cries for justice are absent. It’s as if this were a punishment that, though not deserved, must be submitted to. Jesus understood this psalm to be about his death (Matthew 27:46). Here, then, we have something remarkable—a look into the horror and agony of his heart, described by Jesus himself. Reading the psalm is like standing on holy ground.

 

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for disclosure of what Jesus went through for me.
I thank you that you died for my salvation and that you rose up for my justification.

Thank you for who you are and for what you do! Thank you for sitting high and looking low.
Thank you for looking beyond my faults and seeing my needs. Thank you for your healing power!

Thank you for heling the sick and for raising the dead! I thank you for healing Mother Brenda, Lord continue to heal and strengthen her , continue ease her pain and give her your Holy Spirit to comfort her.
Strengthen Apostle Bowers with the strength he needs to shepherd your people! Give him your Word to teach, guide, strengthen and direct us. Give us your Word to stand on, obey and share with one another.

Heal the sick , comfort the shut-in, feed the hungry. Lord you assigned these tasks to us , but we so often turn them back onto You as if you never told us to do these things. Let us be diligent in obedience and faithful in performance.

 

This is your servant's prayer in your Son's Name!

 

Amen.