Church of Prayer - Psalm 39 - First Wesleyan Church

¹ I said, “I will guard my ways,
    that I may not sin with my tongue;
I will guard my mouth with a muzzle,
    so long as the wicked are in my presence.”
²I was mute and silent;
    I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse.
³    My heart became hot within me.
As I mused, the fire burned;
    then I spoke with my tongue:

⁴“O Lord, make me know my end
    and what is the measure of my days;
    let me know how fleeting I am!
⁵Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
    and my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah
⁶    Surely a man goes about as a shadow!
Surely for nothing^[a] they are in turmoil;
    man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!

⁷“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
    My hope is in you.
⁸Deliver me from all my transgressions.
    Do not make me the scorn of the fool!
⁹I am mute; I do not open my mouth,
    for it is you who have done it.
¹⁰Remove your stroke from me;
    I am spent by the hostility of your hand.
¹¹When you discipline a man
    with rebukes for sin,
you consume like a moth what is dear to him;
    surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah

¹²“Hear my prayer, O Lord,
    and give ear to my cry;
    hold not your peace at my tears!
For I am a sojourner with you,
    a guest, like all my fathers.
¹³Look away from me, that I may smile again,
    before I depart and am no more!”

Sermon Discussion Questions

1. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being high), where would you rank your prayer life? Why would you give yourself this ranking?

2. Do you believe that FWC is a church of prayer? Give examples of why you gave this answer.

3. How long do you think you will live? Have you “numbered your days” and how does one do this?

4. Waiting………..anything you are waiting on? What tools have you learned to help you in your waiting?

5. Where can you expand your prayer life?

6. What 2 people, situations, or things can you add to your prayer life to make it more meaningful, effective, valuable?

Church of Prayer, Prayer, Waiting

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