Weekly Word for Monday, August 23, 2010   The desert is a dry, hot, lonely place.  The desert of the soul is just the same.  In the hard times of life, our souls can become dry and lifeless and barren.  It’s in those times we find the sweetest comfort, the faithful and tender embrace of our Lord.    King David was a man who experienced many a desert encounter.  In a couple of instances, he was running to the desert in order to run away from an enemy.  In those desert encounters, David lifted up his eyes to heaven and prayed.  The desert forces us to our knees, if we are willing to go there.  Psalm 63 is one of David’s classic desert prayers, and it’s his most personal one as well.  There he pours out his heart to God; he conjures up memories of good times gone by.  He clings to God in the most painful of times, and he hopes in a future outcome filled with grace and praise.   The Psalms help us to pray prayers we would not otherwise have words for.  Psalm 63 is one of those prayers.  This week I spoke from the Desert Prayer, because it has been a prayer I’ve prayed this summer.  I hope if you ever get into a desert situation (of your soul) you remember this intimate, personal prayer of David’s, and make it your own.  If you didn’t get a chance to hear the message, you can download it here.   Blessings, Pastor Jerry