A Virtuous Cycle

Bring me out of prison, so that I may give thanks to your Name. The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me.

✙ Ps. 142:7 ✙

This psalm is supposedly one of David's. And here we find David hiding from Saul and his minions—probably in a cave. David's prayer is clearly heartfelt, and the faith it demonstrates is to be emulated. Had David prayed half as much in his palace as he did in the cave, his later life might not have been plagued by the sin he had to so earnestly repent of.

Though dejected and in a pitiful state, David has faith in Psalm 142 that God's power has not been diminished, nor has God's promise failed. But I

The Doorkeeper

Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not turn my heart to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with those who work iniquity; do not let me eat of their delicacies.
Let the righteous strike me; let the faithful correct me. Never let the oil of the wicked anoint my head, for my prayer is continually against their wicked deeds.
When they are given over to those who shall condemn them, then they shall learn that my words were pleasant.
Like a rock that one breaks apart and shatters on the land, so shall

Something Beyond

Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.

✙ Ps. 141:2 ✙

I need to take note of what Psalm 141:2 is saying. Outward actions and the trappings of religion are important to many. And it's not my intention to condemn them. But there are several places in scriptures that make it clear that the outer trappings are mere symbols of inner devotion. As such, they are unnecessary if the heart is right. And one of those places is right here. Incense for some is a spiritual aid. To others it's a distraction. But this verse reminds me that whether or not