A Prayer about God’s Delight and My Hope
His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his delight in the legs of a man,
but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love. (Ps. 147:10–11)
Compassionate Father, once again I come before you as a repeat offender, a man suffering from doxological dementia, one of your sons who gives you so much opportunity to demonstrate the wonder of your “immense patience” (1 Tim. 1:16 NIV). It’s like I’m a perpetual candidate for summer school in the gospel.
Why is it that every time I feel a little disconnected from you; every time I get appropriately disappointed with me; every time I experience the accusations of the enemy; every time I see other believers more zealous, missionaries more passionate, and young converts more committed than me— why is it that my default mode is to lace up my running shoes and get busy for you? Instead of running to you for grace, I start running to do something to assuage my guilty conscience and calm my disquieted heart.
But as this Scripture says, you don’t find any pleasure or delight in the strength and movement of my “legs”— of what I can do for you. You find great pleasure as I put my hope in what you’ve done for me in Jesus. Indeed, where can I find your unfailing, unwavering, unending love? Only in the gospel of your grace. This is so counter intuitive, so contrary to the way I’m wired and the way the world literally works.
Holy Father, to fear you is the beginning of wisdom, and we fear you the most when we hope most fully in your unfailing love for us in Jesus. Should I forget where I parked my car, the address of my home, or even my own name, may I never forget this glorious gospel. I pray in Jesus’ most grace-full name.
Amen.