Psalm 143

143:1 Hear my prayer, O Lord;
give ear to my pleas for mercy!
In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
2 Enter not into judgment with your servant,
for no one living is righteous before you.

3 For the enemy has pursued my soul;
he has crushed my life to the ground;
he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;
my heart within me is appalled.

5 I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all that you have done;
I ponder the work of your hands.
6 I stretch out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah

7 Answer me quickly, O Lord!
My spirit fails!
Hide not your face from me,
lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.

9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord!
I have fled to you for refuge!
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
on level ground!

11 For your name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life!
In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
for I am your servant.

"For no one living is righteous before you." This is a hard reality that I find keep a number of people from faith. It is nearly impossible for them to see themselves as not good.

The Psalmist describes the first thing that has messed up our righteousness. The actions of others have harmed us. And as I have learned and hear many wise people say, hurt people hurt other people. We all live with wounded hearts, whether we can name the abuse we suffer or if it is merely living everyday life. It is there.

This and my own actions don't keep me from God, actually it leads me to seek him more! I look back on all that I have done, and God's faithfulness over that time. i sing songs thanking him and ask that his Spirit would lead me more deeply into a life that honors him.