Psalm 120: Deliver my soul...from a deceitful tongue

From Psalms

Psalm 120

¹In my distress I cried unto the Lord,
      and he heard me.
²Deliver my soul, O Lord,
      from lying lips,
      and from a deceitful tongue.
³What shall be given unto thee?
      or what shall be done unto thee,
      thou false tongue?
⁴Sharp arrows of the mighty,
      with coals of juniper.

⁵Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech,
      that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!
⁶My soul hath long dwelt
      with him that hateth peace.
⁷I am for peace:
      but when I speak, they are for war.

Sometimes in my recovery I make some pretty good discoveries.  Discoveries like I need to pray to be saved from myself.  Saved from my own lies and my own lying.  Saved from my own procrastination.  Saved from many things I create by myself.  Making decisions that generally that don't sit well with God.

I understand the psalmist today is talking about the lies of others, the deceit of others - not his own lies.  However, a big part of the hole, the hell, if you will, that addicts create for ourselves are in the web of lies we weave.  So, it makes sense today, that I put a spin on psalm 120, and I pray that God save me, and for that matter, all addicts, from our own lies.

Oh Lord, it has been more than two years since I cried out to you.  You have clearly heard me in my distress before - and saved my soul.  Nevertheless, I still struggle in my addictions and in the lies that surround my life.  Lies about my sobriety. Lies about where I spend my time.  Lies about things I procrastinate on.  Lies when I tell partial truths.  Lies that are secrets I keep.  All of these are things that inevitably lead me lead me to a place I don't want to be.  A place that's usually alone, hiding from the truth, hiding from the people I've lied to.  And anytime I'm alone hiding is a good place for my addiction to find me.  Oh Lord, save me from my lies.  Give me the strength to be honest. The courage to face adversities that would otherwise tempt me to lie.  Help me trust in you and trust in your word.  Continue to guide me in my sobriety.  Thank you.  Amen.

Thanks for letting me share.