I never tire of reading the Bible through the eyes of Eugene Peterson in his Message translation.
Psalm 17 (in part), where David is crying out to God:
I'm not trying to get my way in the world's way. I'm trying to get your way, your Word's way. I'm staying on your trail; I'm putting one foot in front of the other. I'm not giving up.
I call to you, God, because I'm sure of an answer. So--answer! bend your ear! listen sharp! Paint grace-graffiti on the fences; take in your frightened children who are running from the neighborhood bullies straight to you.
We have pictures in our mind of graffiti-laden neighborhoods with defeated folks standing around, wondering how life passed them by. It is a fearful place, where gangs could erupt at any time, imposing random violence, and it is a land of never enough.
Our hard days are like that. We feel defeat, another wave of bad news, the pain of not enough, all laced with anxiety and fear. We are the frightened children running from the neighborhood bullies of our circumstances.
David's secret? The decision: I'm not giving up. The prayer: I want your way, God. The expectation: I'm sure of an answer.
Most importantly, David knows God can take over the neighborhood--our circumstances--by painting it with His grace.
Imagine the graffiti picture of your mind repainted with grace, with victorious folks moving purposefully through it. It is a joyful place, where love could erupt at any time, imposing random acts of kindness, and it is a land of plenty.
Grace-graffiti: Come Lord, paint our fences.
