{"id":1098,"date":"2010-05-02T00:00:01","date_gmt":"2010-05-02T00:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/markdroberts\/2010\/05\/messy-praying-read-psalm-1201-7.html"},"modified":"2010-05-02T00:00:01","modified_gmt":"2010-05-02T00:00:01","slug":"messy-praying-read-psalm-1201-7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2010\/05\/messy-praying-read-psalm-1201-7.html","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

Messy Praying<\/h3>\n
READ Psalm 120:1-7<\/a><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n

\n“I am tired of living
     among people who hate peace.”
\n<\/p>\n

Psalm 120:6<\/a><\/div>\n

\nPsalm 120 is the first in a series of psalms known as the “Psalms of
\nAscent.” They were used by the Jewish people as they ascended to
\nJerusalem for worship in the temple. The Psalms of Ascent include a
\nbroad spectrum of poetic types. Psalm 120, for example, is an
\nindividual lament. It reflects the experience of someone who is far
\naway from Jerusalem. Long distance from home accentuates the psalmist’s
\npain as people slander him (120:2). Thus he laments, “I am tired of
\nliving among people who hate peace” (120:6).<\/p>\n

Interestingly,
\nPsalm 120 ends on a somber note. Even though the psalm writer seeks
\npeace, his enemies “want war” (120:7). There is no resolution here, no
\nword of hope, no confession of God’s ultimate deliverance. Though the
\npsalmist has cried out to God for help, we don’t even learn if his
\nprayers were answered (120:1-2).<\/p>\n

Thus, this psalm reminds us
\nthat sometimes our conversation with God is messy. Though it makes
\nsense to begin our prayers with thanks and praise and to end them
\nsimilarly, there is no biblical mandate for such a structure. At times,
\nwe simply cry out to God from our place of pain, loneliness, and
\ndespair. We don’t come to a sense of resolution when we run out of
\nwords. We simply stop talking and wait upon God, whether we like it or
\nnot. The fact that Psalm 120 is included in the Spirit-inspired canon
\nof Scripture reminds us that it’s okay to pray this way. Through the
\nexample of this psalm, God invites us to come before his throne of
\ngrace as we are, and to say anything and everything on our hearts,
\nwithout holding back (see Hebrews 4:16). <\/p>\n

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION<\/strong>:
\nHave you ever prayed along the lines of Psalm 120? Do you feel freedom
\nto tell God what you’re really thinking and feeling? If so, why? If
\nnot, why not? <\/p>\n

PRAYER<\/strong>: Gracious God, my first
\nresponse when I read Psalm 120 is to think, “Well, that’s rather a
\ndowner.” I’d rather hear words of encouragement that testify to your
\nfaithfulness and mercy. <\/p>\n

But the more I reflect on this psalm,
\nthe more thankful I am for its presence in the Psalter. Psalm 120
\nsounds a lot like my own prayers when I am discouraged. It is so
\nhonest, so vulnerable, so unpolished. It suggests that I can approach
\nyou as I am, without having to clean up my act and my speech. <\/p>\n

What
\nPsalm 120 exemplifies, Hebrews 4 proclaims. There, you invite us to
\napproach you with boldness, with full openness, confident of your mercy
\nand grace. What an amazing invitation! How reassuring it is to know
\nthat I can come before you “just as I am.” <\/p>\n

All praise be to you, O God, because you invite me to share my whole self with you, holding nothing back. Amen<\/em>.<\/p>\n

_________________________________________________<\/p>\n

<\/a>Would you like to receive a Daily Reflection like this one in your email inbox each morning?  <\/strong>
\nHere’s how . . . . <\/em><\/strong>
\nThis devotional comes from The High Calling of Our Daily Work <\/em>(www.thehighcalling.org<\/a>), a wonderful website about work and God<\/em>. You can read my Daily Reflections<\/a> there, or sign up to have them sent to your email inbox<\/a> each day. This website contains lots of encouragement for people who are trying to live out their faith in the workplace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Messy Praying READ Psalm 120:1-7   “I am tired of living     among people who hate peace.” Psalm 120:6 Psalm 120 is the first in a series of psalms known as the “Psalms of Ascent.” They were used by the Jewish people as they ascended to Jerusalem for worship in the temple. The Psalms of Ascent include…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[134,135,242],"class_list":["post-1098","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sunday-inspiration","tag-messy-praying","tag-psalm-120","tag-sunday-inspiration"],"yoast_head":"\nSunday Inspiration from The High Calling - Mark D. 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Roberts","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","caption":"Mark D. Roberts"},"description":"The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a pastor, author, retreat leader, speaker, and blogger. Since October 2007 he has been the Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas. Before coming to Laity Lodge, he was for sixteen years the Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California (a city in Orange County about forty miles south of Los Angeles). Before his time at Irvine Pres, Mark served on the staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood as Associate Pastor of Education. (Thanks to Janel Pahl for taking the photo to the right.) Mark studied at Harvard University, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in the Study of Religion, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins. He has taught classes in New Testament for Fuller Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Mark has written several books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005), Dare to Be True (WaterBrook, 2003), Jesus Revealed (WaterBrook, 2002), After \"I Believe\" (Baker, 2002), and Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Word, 1993). His most recent book is Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Crossway, 2007). He is currently working on a commentary on Ephesians that will be published by Zondervan in 2014. Mark writes a devotional for The High Calling of Our Daily Work, a website associated with Laity Lodge. His \"Daily Reflections\" can be viewed online or sent as a daily email. If you wish to receive this email, just visit TheHighCalling.org and sign up. Mark serves on the editorial board of Worship Leader magazine, where he publishes articles and reviews, including his regular column \"Lyrical Poetry.\" Additionally, he has published dozens of articles in leading magazines and journals. He often speaks for churches and other Christian groups, and has been interviewed on over seventy-five radio programs nationwide. Mark is married to Linda, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Spiritual Director, and a retreat speaker. They have two children, Nathan and Kara.For Publicity Photos and Bio Statements for Mark, please check here. Mark's Dossier Professional History: Senior Director and Scholar-in Residence, Laity Lodge, October 2007 to present. Senior Pastor Irvine Presbyterian Church, June 1991 to September 2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor Fuller Theological Seminary, 1994 to 2007. Courses: New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Adjunct Instructor San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1995 to 2001. Courses: New Testament Greek and Exegesis Associate Pastor of Education First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, 1987-1991 Teaching Fellow Harvard University, 1980-1983 Education: Ph.D. in the Study of Religion. Harvard University, 1992. Area: New Testament and Christian Origins M.A. in the Study of Religion Harvard University, 1984. A.B. magna cum laude in Philosophy Harvard University, 1979. Phi Beta Kappa; Danforth Fellowship Books: Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Crossway, 2007 No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer. WaterBrook, 2005 Dare to Be True: Living in the Freedom of Complete Honesty. WaterBrook, 2003. Jesus Revealed: Know Him Better to Love Him Better. WaterBrook, 2002. After \"I Believe\": Experiencing Authentic Christian Living. Baker, 2002. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther in the Communicator's Commentary Series. Word, 1993. Contacting Mark: You can reach Mark at: E-mail: mark@markdroberts.com mroberts@laitylodge.org Phone: Laity Lodge: (830) 792-1216 Address: Laity Lodge 719 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/author\/mroberts"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1098","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/214"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1098"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1098\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1098"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1098"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1098"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}