Halloween has never been one of my favorite events. Very early childhood memories found me hiding behind the door and peering through the crack in the door as masked and disguised children came to our home for candy treats. I realize that many people do not celebrate the event because of pagan religious associations with Halloween, but I just never have been too keen on opening my door to strangers in masks!
I read Psalm 31 and the Psalmist, probably David, is asking for favor (or “treats”) but instead of wearing a mask, he begins to strip himself completely. In verse seven he mentions his affliction and anguish. In verse nine he says that he is distressed, his eyes are weak with sorrow and his soul and body are weak with grief. The following verses are filled with the Psalmists confessions of what is going on in his life, mind, and body and he is just laying it all out there for the Lord to see. He wears no mask, or makes no pretense. He is asking for favor. He knows that he deserves none, but has seen such mercy and favor from God in the past, that by the end of the chapter he is encouraging others to hope in the Lord.
Do we sometimes find ourselves hiding behind a mask or pretense or false identity when we come to the Lord? Do we actually tell God who and what we are so that He can heal us and meet our needs? He already knows what we are, and what we need, so the mask that we don is purely for our own benefit. It is pride.
May we be like the Psalmist in Psalm 31 and strip ourselves of anything false and come to the Lord as we are? May we come with our failures, our fears and our false feelings of security. May we allow God to show mercy and favor to us, so that we can arise from our personal altar with healing and hope in our hearts.
Tracy Payne
Oklahoma
Pray Together: Let’s pray earnestly that we will spend more time communing with God daily.
