{"id":1458,"date":"2011-03-06T07:42:36","date_gmt":"2011-03-06T07:42:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/markdroberts\/2011\/03\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-god-knows-everything-you-long-for.html"},"modified":"2011-03-06T07:42:36","modified_gmt":"2011-03-06T07:42:36","slug":"sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-god-knows-everything-you-long-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2011\/03\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-god-knows-everything-you-long-for.html","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling: God Knows Everything You Long For"},"content":{"rendered":"

God Knows Everything You Long For<\/h2>\n
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\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n

Psalm 38:1-22<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\nYou know what I long for, Lord;
\n     you hear my every sigh.<\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n

Psalm 38:9<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

\nPsalm 38 was written in a time of deep anguish and exhaustion. David
\nwas physically ill, believing that his suffering was a result of his own
\nsinful choices. Moreover, his enemies were making plans to destroy him.
\nIn desperation, he cried out to God for help, thus composing the prayer
\nwe know as Psalm 38.<\/p>\n

\nIn the center of this prayer, David says, “You know what I long for,
\nLord; you hear my every sigh” (v. 9). The original Hebrew of this verse
\ncould be translated more literally, “All my desires are before you,
\nLord; my sighing is not hidden from you.” David has laid himself bare
\nbefore God. He has opened his heart, sharing every desire and every
\ndiscouragement. He has hidden nothing from the Lord, aware that God sees
\nall, anyway.<\/p>\n

\nHow do you respond to the idea that God knows all of your longings?
\nWhen I consider this truth, at first I feel reassured. How good it is to
\nremember that God knows all that I desire. But then I am caught up
\nshort. I am well aware that some of my desires are selfish and sinful.
\nI’d rather keep these secret, or at least that’s my initial thought.<\/p>\n

\nBut then, as I reflect more deeply, I am once again reassured. God
\nknows even my evil desires, yet he still loves me. God knows how easily I
\ncan seek after my own good and glory, yet he still has called me into
\nhis service. The fact that God knows every longing of my heart gives me
\nfreedom to be myself before the Lord. I don’t have to pretend when I
\npray. I don’t have to phrase my confession so it doesn’t sound too bad.
\nRather, I can freely reveal all that I am to the Lord, confident that
\nhis acceptance of me is not predicated on my goodness, but on his grace.<\/p>\n

\nQUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:<\/strong> How does the thought
\nthat God knows your every longing impact you? Is this reassuring?
\nTroubling? Encouraging? Do you ever try to hide from God? Why? What
\nencourages you to open your heart freely and fully to him?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

\nPRAYER:<\/strong> Gracious God, yes, indeed, you know what I
\nlong for. Every desire of my heart is known to you. You know the good
\ndesires, the bad, and all that’s in between. You see when I want your
\nway and when I seek my own. You know me through and through.<\/p>\n

\nAnd yet you still accept me through Christ. I belong to you forever,
\nnot because I am worthy, but because you have chosen me in love. Thus, I
\ncan open my life to you in the knowledge that you already know me and
\nhave embraced me through your grace.<\/p>\n

\nHelp me, dear Lord, to live in the reassurance that you know me through
\nand through. May I learn to live in you each moment, communing with
\nyou, attending to your Spirit, seeking your glory.<\/p>\n

\nI pray in the name of Jesus, Amen<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

God Knows Everything You Long For Psalm 38:1-22 You know what I long for, Lord;      you hear my every sigh. Psalm 38:9 Psalm 38 was written in a time of deep anguish and exhaustion. David was physically ill, believing that his suffering was a result of his own sinful choices. Moreover, his enemies were…<\/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":[],"class_list":["post-1458","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sunday-inspiration"],"yoast_head":"\nSunday Inspiration from The High Calling: God Knows Everything You Long For - 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\/1458","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=1458"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1458\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1458"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1458"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1458"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}