Psalm 6

When things are not going my way I tend to put my head down and try to gut it out. I do not often think to ask God for help. If I think that God is punishing me for my sins I figure I deserve it and I do not think to ask God to forgive me and take away the punishment.

I read Psalm 6. I do not resonate with a lot of this psalm. I do not cry on my bed. I do not see attacks of my enemies. Usually when thinks go badly I figure it's my own darn fault. Yet people may be against me. If so its out of my understanding. People usually do not say, "I am out to get you here." No they smile and say nice things while trying to put one over on you.

The Psalmist sees his failures and immediately asks God for forgiveness and more than that asks for deliverance. Often I phrase it as "God's blessings". "God bless me today. Give me your favor in all the situations that I come up against at work and at home."

For me personally I add "Help me to be patient and loving with my family and my co-workers." Because I am constantly impatient and not loving. I need to ask God for help in those areas. I often add, "Send you Holy Spirit to dwell with me today."

I do not do this every day. But I should. Lately I have had problems at work. It is helpful to pray before I go to work. I can pray in the car, pray at the gym. There is a holy fear that comes over me. I need God's help.

The psalmist recalls that God is faithful and full of lovingkindness (a wonderful Hebrew word "hesed" that means both of those things.) The Lord hears my prayer. I do not identify with all my enemies being ashamed but if I do have smiling enemies, let them all repent of what they are doing and be ashamed.
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Psalm 6:1-10 [1] O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger, Nor chasten me in Your wrath. [2] Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am pining away; Heal me, O LORD, for my bones are dismayed. [3] And my soul is greatly dismayed; But You, O LORD--how long? [4] Return, O LORD, rescue my soul; Save me because of Your lovingkindness. [5] For there is no mention of You in death; In Sheol who will give You thanks? [6] I am weary with my sighing; Every night I make my bed swim, I dissolve my couch with my tears. [7] My eye has wasted away with grief; It has become old because of all my adversaries. [8] Depart from me, all you who do iniquity, For the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping. [9] The LORD has heard my supplication, The LORD receives my prayer. [10] All my enemies will be ashamed and greatly dismayed; They shall turn back, they will suddenly be ashamed. NASB