Author: Andrew

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Confession from Psalm 119:33-40

Father of Mercies and God of all comfort, comfort your servants today as we mourn over our remaining sin. We have committed ourselves to you, but we are still sinful. We know that when we disobey your Word, we build our house on sand, yet we have continued to choose the bad portion. We pray with the Psalmist: “Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared. Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good.” Forgive us for the improper inclinations of our hearts, our desire for selfish gain, our attention to worthless things, through the Messiah, Jesus Christ, amen. (Based on Psalm 119:33-40)

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Prayer from Psalm 119:25-32

Merciful God, our souls cling to the dust. Give us life according to your word! We thank you that you hear our cries despite our many sins against you. Strengthen us by your Spirit; dispense upon us the blessings purchased by your Son Jesus Christ. His humiliation for us grieves us as we consider what he endured for our sins. He knew sorrow far beyond our own, though he did not deserve it. He obeyed your statutes perfectly. Forgive our sins and strengthen us. Enlarge our hearts, so we not only walk in your commandments, but we run in them! Enable us to do so, for your glory and our good, we ask in Jesus’ name, amen. (Based on Psalm 119:25-32)

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Confession from Psalm 119:17-24

Gracious LORD, you have dealt bountifully with us. We were once blind, but now we see wondrous things in your word. Your commandments were hidden from us because of our willful refusal. Give us continual eyes to behold your glory, even as treasures in jars of clay. We are sojourners in the earth, yet we often live as though we did not have heavenly citizenship. Our thoughts and hopes have been on this world. Forgive us! We come to your mercy seat for refuge and plead the blood of Jesus Christ. Transform us by your Spirit working through your word. Enable us to delight fully in you, we ask through Jesus, amen. (Based on Psalm 119:17-24)

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Psalm 119:9-16 Confession

“Dear God beyond all praising, you are blessed. We confess this day that we do not deserve your blessing. We have not kept our way pure. We have not guarded ourselves according to your Word. Instead, we have let the words of the world, the flesh, and the devil speak to our hearts. Forgive us for Jesus’ sake! Blot out our transgressions, and let us not wander from your commandments. Teach us, and give us a heart that loves to be taught by you. Transform us to love and delight in you and your law. Thank you that Christ died for our sins. We find in him all our delight, more than riches. He is the pearl of greatest price. We pray in his name, amen. “

(Based on Psalm 119:9-16)

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Psalm 119:1-8 Prayer

Confession of sin based on Psalm 119:1-8:

Heavenly Father, we confess that we have failed to seek you with our whole heart. We have been halfhearted in our love for you, in our service, even in our worship. You have commanded that your precepts be kept diligently, but we have not been steadfast in them. We therefore deserve everlasting shame. So we plead for your steadfast love now, looking to the Savior who served you with his whole heart in his earthly ministry. We thank you that you count his obedience to our account. With the greatest humiliation for our sins, we praise you that you will never forsake us. We ask for transformation in Jesus’ name, amen. (Based on Psalm 119:1-8)

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Writing Update Sept 2021

It’s been a while since I posted because I was having some issues with my website (not my expertise!). Thankfully, here are some articles that I’ve been able to write for various publications:

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A Prayer to the Lord of Glory

Heavenly Father, you proclaim to us that Jesus is the Lord of glory, yet we often view glory according to the flesh. We regard princes and princesses, seeking to be among those who are rich, beautiful, and popular, and despairing when we are not. This affects how we treat our neighbors, whom we are called to love without favoritism. Forgive us for dishonoring the poor, those weak in the eyes of the world, and forgetting that you have not disdained us, but welcomed us in mercy. Forgive us and give us a biblical perspective on glory. Help us to see that if anyone is in Christ – new creation – and we are to regard them not by the flesh, that is, by worldly standards. We ask this in Jesus’ name, amen. (Based on James 2:1-8 and 2 Cor. 5)

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Chess: Increasing Small Advantages

Given that in-person chess has effectively ceased this year due to COVID-19, my “fire” for chess has waned. Still, notice how the amazing chess artist Mikhail Tal turns a small advantage into a great attack. Observe this position. What do you notice about it?

Notice that black has a tremendous space advantage. Look at white’s pieces–most of them on the back rank! As a result, they are uncoordinated. They can’t help each other. How does Tal press his advantage? If he waits too long, white will slowly uncoil his pieces.

13…e4 He pushes his pawn! At first glance, many chessplayers would discount this move because you notice that you lose this pawn. But Tal gets compensation through pressure on the e2 square. 14.dxe4 d3 15.Ne3 Bxe2 16.Qa4 Ng4 17.Ndf1 Bf6 18.Ra2 Bc3 19.Bd2 Qd4

Notice how black has pushed white’s best piece, his queen, away from the action, and crammed his pieces down white’s center. 20.axb4 Bxd2 21.Rxd2 axb4 22.Qb3 Ra1 23.Rxa1 Qxa1 24.Nxg4 Nd4 25.Qb2 Nf3+ 26.Kh1 Qe1 27.Ne3 Qxf2 0-1 White gave up here. His rook is under attack by black’s knight, and he has no safe squares. If Bxf3, black plays Bxf3, checkmate.

This is how many chessplayers win games: they slowly and steadily pinpoint a small advantage and press that advantage until it yields a great advantage!

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