December 17, 2004

As I mentioned in the November E-letter, I completed all of Beth Moore’s Bible studies and I’m eagerly awaiting the release of “The Patriarchs” by her in the summer.  Until then, I had to find another Bible study.  I chose, “Disciple’s Prayer Life” by T.W. Hunt and I’m really learning a lot.

One of the exercises last week especially caught my fancy and I wanted to share it with you.  Mr. Hunt was talking about our individual unique relationship with God.  After rehearsing the many names and titles of God, he explained that the name we call someone often identifies our relationship with that person ie; “Daddy/Child” “Doctor/Patient” “Teacher/Student” “Honey/Lover”etc. 

Mr. Hunt asked us to think of our personal relationship with God and identify the most common relationship we assume with Him.  Some examples he provided were: worker to boss, hiker to guide, team member to coach, crew member to a captain, a musician to a conductor, a servant to a master, a subject to a king, a citizen to a president, etc.

After much thought I realized that, at this time in my life, I most often think of my relationship with God as “empty vessel” to “The Source.”  Now it is your turn.  How would you fill in the following blanks?

_______________ to a ________________

The next thing Mr. Hunt did was paraphrase the 23^rd Psalm with his unique relationship to God in mind.  Because David’s vocation was a sheep herder, he originally wrote the Psalm from his relationship as “sheep” to “Shepherd,” Mr. Hunt rewrote his Psalm from a professor’s perspective from his personal relationship to the Lord as “student” to “teacher.”  This is what he came up with.

The Lord is my Professor;

I shall not lack knowledge of God.

He makes me understand His ways;

He leads me into refreshing new insights.

He restores my mind;

He leads me in an understanding of holiness for the sake of His glory.

Yes, thought I walk in an age of dangerous untruth,

I will fear no evil; for You are with me;

Your Spirit and Your Book, they reassure me.

You prepare a curriculum before me in the presence of my detractors;

You anoint my mind with glory;

My notebook overflows!

Surely wisdom and knowledge shall fill me all the days of my life,

And I shall sit at the feet of my Teacher forever!

The next exercise in the Bible study was to personalize Psalm 23^rd from your own personal perspective using the relationship you identified as your unique prayer identity with God.  In my case, remember, it was “empty vessel” to “Source” so this is how my personal Psalm came out.

The Lord is my Source;

I shall not rely on myself.

He leads me to empty myself out before Him;

He makes me clean because of His blood.

He restores the gifts within me;

He leads me to be filled with His Spirit.

Yes, though I walk through impossible situations,

I will not be afraid; I will choose to believe.

I will put my trust in His power and mercy.

He prepares eternal work for me to do;

He anoints me for the task;

His glory flows in and through me!

Surely, His name will be praised forever,

And I will humbly cast my crown at His feet in worship!

Now it is your turn.

Using the personal relationship you identified, paraphrase the 23^rd Psalm with the following directions: 

• Verse 1: who God is in relations to you – two phrases
• Verse 2: where He puts you – two phrases
• Verse 3: the walk you have with Him – two phrases
• Verse 4: potential danger and His protection – three phrase
• Verse 5: God’s provision – three phrases
• Verse 6: your future in this special relationship with God – two phrases

After you write your personal Psalm, be sure to write it in a journal somewhere or in a “Faithbook” and share it with your family.  Then would you consider sharing it with me?  I would love to hear what you came up with.  You can simply send it to Lisa@LisaWhelchel.com  (As usual, I can’t respond to every email or I wouldn’t be able to enjoy Christmas in the same room with my family.)  But it would be so much fun to share your Psalms with my family over the holidays.  If you wouldn’t mind, I could also share them in a future journal entry to encourage all of us.