Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my meditation.
Give heed to the voice of my cry, My King and my God,
For to You, I will pray.

Sighing and crying

Psalms 5 reveals a man who sighs and cries out to God. There is a difference between a sigh and a cry.
Different versions of the Bible use the word “groan,” “meditation,” or “lament” instead of the word “sigh.” A “sigh” is like a tired, unending expression of dealing with life. It is like a heavy weight you carry around as the pressures of the day begin. The struggles you are fighting seem to be unchanging, and there is that expression of frustration.

All the versions of the Bible use the word “cry.” Crying is not sighing; this is deep pain. The whole weight of the problem is center-focused. David asks God to answer his prayers. Crying out in deep passion, David prays his request to God. Why does he pour out his feeling to God? Because David has experience in being honest with God. He knows God is big enough to take any words of pain and frustration. David even asks God, “Why are You taking so long?”

I will lift my head

As David begins his talk with God, David says in verse 3, “I will look up.” I will lift my head off the earth and its problems to focus on my God. Other versions of the Bible state, “I will wait expectantly” or “I will be on the watch.” David empties his troubled heart to God. He declares God’s character. David asks for direction as he walks through troubling times. He asks God to intervene against those who are against him.

A change in David’s tone

Notice the change of tone in David’s words as he moves from sighing and crying to rehearsing God’s goodness. David’s heart speaks of the joy of trusting God. “Let all those rejoice who trust in You.” “Let them ever shout for joy because You defend them.” Other versions say to protect or cover them.

A change in David’s heart

Notice the change in David’s heart. It is normal to have seasons of sighing and crying out to God. Let’s not stop there. Begin to declare God’s character and power. Empty your heart and your frustrations to God. Then KNOW that God hears and will defend. It will be on God’s timing and method but rejoice in knowing God is faithful.

Declare that God WILL BLESS THE RIGHTEOUS.

It is much better to blow off steam to God than to take it out on your family, work, or even the one causing you pain. Trust in the Lord and “lift up your head.” Let your lightnside reflect your confidence in God.

Psalms 24:3-4 Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.

Sometimes a translation of God’s word opens up a new understanding.  I usually read from NKJV or the NIV, but my devotions for the next three years are out of the New Living Translation. I have been meditating on the NLT of Psalms 24. It is sticking with me and turning in my heart. Especially verses three and four. “Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? ONLY those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.”

Climbing the mountain of the Lord

Climbing is hard. It requires strength, focus, and sacrifice. Climbing God’s mountain in today’s climate is challenging. There are so many distractions around us. To climb God’s mountain successfully, you must not lose focus on the goal, to stand in the holy place with God. It will take determination and sacrifice to accomplish this. We cannot get caught up in today’s culture and successfully climb God’s mountain.  

Hands and Hearts are pure.

Hands – Are you a hard worker? When you do your job, are you doing your very best? Even if others do not recognize you, are you performing your job as unto the Lord? This is climbing God’s mountain. Being lazy and pushing needed chores down the road are examples of our culture of ease, entitlement, and pleasure. Work hard with your hands, and you will climb the mountain of God.

Hearts – Are there people you hate? Do you align yourself with today’s culture of groups pushing their agenda? Jesus dies for us all. I have had to work (and still work) on my heart against people I judge as anti-Christian. We fight not against flesh and blood but against evil principalities and powers (Eph 6:12.) Let us pray rather than hate. Jesus says to love our enemies. Is your heart pure? Keeping your heart pure in today’s culture is climbing the mountain of God.

Do not worship idols.

Of course, we do not have physical idol statues in our homes, but we can have a personal desire that overshadows our walk with God. It can be a pleasure, status, fitness, beauty, wealth, and power. These goals are not necessarily evil unless they turn your life away from following God. At various stages of life, there are traps the enemies set for us to begin to focus on rather than the mountain of God. If you become obsessed with this goal and stop climbing the mountain of God, you may be climbing toward trouble. Check your weekly focus and how much time is devoted to it. Make sure you are not focusing on idols.

Never tell lies.

Even white lies? Even when it will not hurt anybody? Never tell lies. We are all human, and we all deceive others at some point. This culture lies to us every day. The scriptures say, “Never tell lies,” what will you do with this commandment? Do what I must do and repent. If you are reading this and recognize you need to come clean with someone, you are climbing the mountain of God. Much of what is said on TV is a lie or a variation of the truth. Let us come clean with half-truths, lies, and deceptions as we climb God’s mountain.

Climbing is hard work, but reaching the top of the mountain and standing in the holy place with God will be worth it all. Plus, working hard, a heart of compassion, dedication to following Christ, and never deceiving or lying to others will bring peace and blessings to your home and community.

Let your Light-N-Side shine true as you climb God’s Mountian today.