A Loving Teacher

A LOVING TEACHER

a prayer to open

Here’s my heart, Lord. Speak what is true.

Here’s my life, Lord. Speak what is true.

O LORD, I give my life to you.

I trust in you, my God!

Do not let me be disgraced,

or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.

No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,

but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.

Show me the right path, O LORD;

point out the road for me to follow.

Lead me by your truth and teach me,

for you are the God who saves me.

All day long I put my hope in you.

Remember, O LORD, your compassion and unfailing love,

which you have shown from long ages past.

Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.

Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,

for you are merciful, O LORD.

The LORD is good and does what is right;

he shows the proper path to those who go astray.

He leads the humble in doing right,

teaching them his way.

The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness

all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.

For the honor of your name, O LORD,

forgive my many, many sins.

Who are those who fear the LORD?

He will show them the path they should choose.

They will live in prosperity,

and their children will inherit the land.

The LORD is a friend to those who fear him.

He teaches them his covenant.

My eyes are always on the LORD,

for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.

Turn to me and have mercy,

for I am alone and in deep distress.

My problems go from bad to worse.

Oh, save me from them all!

Feel my pain and see my trouble.

Forgive all my sins.

See how many enemies I have

and how viciously they hate me!

Protect me! Rescue my life from them!

Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge.

May integrity and honesty protect me,

for I put my hope in you.

Sometimes, in the back of our minds, we tend to think that God has a scoreboard in his heavenly office and marks us down a point each time we fail. But this psalm reminds us that we are not victims of God’s scorekeeping; we are students of his ways, and he will teach and guide us to follow in his path. We need only be willing to learn and when we make mistakes seek his forgiveness and correction and get back up to try again. How might our lives be shaped if we saw ourselves as students of a loving, wise, and faithful teacher?

• Read this passage again slowly. What word or phrase stands out to you? Why do you think that particular word or phrase speaks to you? What does it say?
• Who is the best teacher or mentor you have ever had? What characteristics made that person helpful in your learning?
• In the past, how have you imagined God responding to you in the midst of your failures to follow in his ways? Does your imaginative portrait of him differ from how you have actually experienced him or from what Scripture describes? How so?

Lord, I want to be a student of your ways and your will. Forgive me for the times I have seen you as a scorekeeper, tyrant, or taskmaster instead of the loving, grace-giving teacher you are. Fill my mind with your words of love and mercy. Convict my heart when I go astray, correct my thoughts when they misrepresent you, and put me back on the right path so that all I am and all I do honors you. Amen.