Psalm 38 – David is in a bout with sin. Ever been there? Are you there now? He is honest before the LORD in his prayer and toil.

• “because of my sins” v. 3
• “because of my foolishness” v. 5

“My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.” Psalm 38:10 

Sin destroys the divine joy and His light, His blessing upon our countenance: “as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.”

Psalm 38

In His Sin David Cries Out to the LORD to “Forsake Me Not, O Lord”

“A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
2  For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.
3  There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.
4  For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
5  My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.
6  I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.
7  For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8  I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.
9  Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.
10  My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.
11  My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
12  They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.
13  But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.
14  Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.
15  For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.
16  For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.
17  For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.
18  For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
19  But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.
21 Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.
22 Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.”

Necessities for Overcoming Sin

Honesty

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”  Proverbs 28:13

Repentance

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” Acts 3:19

The Cross

“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3

Karen Cochran

“Yes! We must be relentless in crucifying the flesh because it does not want to die. It will fight to not obey God. You must engage your will to be truly free. Romans 8: 7-8 says, ‘Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh can not please God.’ Many Christians try to rebuke the flesh thinking it is Satan. You can not rebuke it. It must be taken to the cross of Christ and laid down at the feet of Jesus. That is the only way that you get the fruits of the Spirit. The Lord in His great mercy takes that ugly flesh and replaces it with His fruit. That is how He makes us like Him. Otherwise, the flesh is controlling our life and not Jesus.”

Humility and Submission to God

“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:6-10

“Striving Against Sin”

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” Hebrews 12:1-4

For now, especially at certain seasons, we are “striving against sin” right? And we know God is able! See Ephesians 3:20; 2 Corinthians 9:8.

Restoring the Brethren of Christ

Help and do not attack the brethren. Jesus didn’t attack us nor withhold His coming to the earth while we “were yet sinners” and we must put to death any hatred that would condemn another member of Christ’s body. Instead, we are to “restore” them.

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:1-2

YOUR PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to You now in the name of Jesus Christ confessing that I have sinned against You. I have not sought Thy holy face as You are worthy. I here and now repent. I return – turn afresh – to You, asking that You cleanse me by the precious blood of Jesus right now. For this may all glory, praise, honor, worship, and dominion be unto You dear LORD. I love You Jesus. Please now fill me with Your Holy Ghost and use me in this last hour, in the name of Jesus, amen.

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