8/21/23

NIGHT PRAYER: Monday 8/21



 Tell the truth!
 That's one of your ten commandments, Lord    
    - the eighth, if I'm not mistaken...

But sometimes, Lord, I bend the truth,
    I "creatively" twist and shape it;
I ignore the truth 
    or deny the truth;
I hold back from telling the whole truth,
    from speaking nothing but the truth...

And sometimes, Lord
   -  I just plain lie...

Sometimes I lie to my neighbor,
    sometimes I lie to you
        and sometimes I lie to myself...
 
And sometimes
    - I lie to all three of us! 
 
I lie because I just can't face, 
    I just won't face,
        the me of who I am
but I am yours, beloved by you,
    even and especially 
when I just don't like myself,
    when I hate the life that's mine... 
 
All this, Lord, even though you've told us:
 
Well, I  know this - and believe it.
I've known the times in my own life 
    when truth, indeed, has set me free
from the tangled web deceit can weave
    and the misery of guilt and shame...
       
My lies will take me nowhere, Lord,
    they dead-end in anxiety:
        in isolating loneliness, 
            in aching stress and fear...
 
And it's then I need, I truly need  
    to tell the truth to you, Lord, and myself
that the truth might finally set me free
    to live and to be become (at last!)
the person who, in love,
     you've created me to be... 
 
So let me see, reveal to me
    the truth of who I am, Lord:
your creation, your beloved,
    the apple of your eye,
and truth be told, your child,
    ever cherished, blessed and held
        in your strong and loving arms... 

I pray from deep within my soul,
    let your truth, Lord, set me free...

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake
    and watch over me while I sleep
that awake, I might keep watch with you
    and asleep, rest in your peace...
 
Amen.
 
Truth Be Told by Matthew West
    performed here with Carly Pearce

If a video doesn't appear below, click here!
 
 
Lie number 1: you’re supposed to have it all together 
And when they ask how you’re doing 
    just smile and tell them “never better” 
 
Lie number 2: everybody’s life is perfect except yours 
So keep your messes and your wounds and your secrets 
    safe with you behind closed doors 
 
Truth be told 
The truth is rarely told, no...
 
I say I’m fine, yeah I’m fine oh I’m fine, hey I’m fine 
    but I’m not - I’m broken 
And when it’s out of control I say it’s under control but it’s not 
    and you know it 
I don’t know why it’s so hard to admit it 
When being honest is the only way to fix it 
There’s no failure, no fall 
There’s no sin you don’t already know 
So let the truth be told 
 
There’s a sign on the door, says “come as you are” but I doubt it 
If we lived like it was true 
    every Sunday morning pew would be crowded 
But didn’t you say church should look more like a hospital 
A safe place for the sick, 
    the sinner and the scarred and the prodigal, like me 
 
Well, truth be told 
The truth is rarely told 
Oh, am I the only one who says... 
 
I say I’m fine, yeah I’m fine oh I’m fine, hey I’m fine 
    but I’m not - I’m broken 
And when it’s out of control I say it’s under control but it’s not 
    - and you know it 
I don’t know why it’s so hard to admit it 
When being honest is the only way to fix it 
There’s no failure, no fall 
There’s no sin you don’t already know 
So let the truth be told
 
Can I really stand here unashamed 
Knowin' that you love for me won’t change 
Oh God If that’s really true 
Then let the truth be told
 
I say I’m fine, yeah I’m fine oh I’m fine, hey I’m fine 
    but I’m not - I’m broken 
And when it’s out of control I say it’s under control but it’s not 
    - and you know it 
I don’t know why it’s so hard to admit it 
When being honest is the only way to fix it 
There’s no failure, no fall 
There’s no sin you don’t already know 
So let the truth be told

 
  


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