Broken Hands Lifted in Praise

"We are not held back by the love we didn't receive in the past, but by the love we're not extending in the present."  Marianne Williamson

Texts:

Psalm 77

Proverbs 30:1-9

Matthew 4:1-11

Proverbs 30:1-9 is its own sermon:

"I am weary, O God, I am weary, O God. How can I prevail? 2 Surely I am too stupid to be human; I do not have human understanding. 3 I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the holy ones. 4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in the hollow of the hand? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is the person's name? And what is the name of the person's child? Surely you know! 5 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add to his words, or else he will rebuke you, and you will be found a liar. 7 Two things I ask of you; do not deny them to me before I die: 8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that I need, 9 or I shall be full, and deny you, and say, "Who is the LORD?" or I shall be poor, and steal, and profane the name of my God."

I think the writer's words speak a truth that is powerful, naming with honesty that voice that castigates our humanness, that places us in the mire and the helplessness of realizing it's not about getting it right: right and wrong fade into being wrapped up in the blanket of God.  Make me neither rich nor poor, give me what I need.  Make my abundance a fullness of life, a fullness of being, an honest reminder of who I am.  Do not allow me to take more than what I need, and do not allow me to despise that which I do not have.  Teach me to be happy in my smallness, content with the little pleasures that You bring.  

Teach my voice to tell the truth until the truth becomes who I am.  Teach me to set free that I might unbind.  Teach me to love that I might be loved.  Teach me to surrender that I might be taken up.  Teach me to let go of the things to which I cling that I might receive You.