18Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, 19to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
20Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and shield. 21Our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. 22Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
Lord,
To make personal the words of the poet, your eye is on me. Do I fear you? Absolutely! It is not that I am afraid of you, though perhaps I am, but I stand in absolute awe of you and your creation and Jesus whom you sent. Even with all my sin, I stand in awe of you and my mind and heart are overwhelmed with wonder and I fear you. Do I hope in your steadfast love? Yes I hope, help my uncertainty. Though I say the words with overwhelming humility and ineffable gaps in understanding, I believe that you love me with a steadfast love and I am grateful.
Even as I engage the day and the work that is before me, I wait for your continuing wisdom and guidance and I trust myself completely to your steadfast love.
Forgive my failures to trust and continually put me in the right path.
PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Ask God to help you to receive the “steadfast love” that God has for you.
Affirm that God steadfastly loves you.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Psalm 33
The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. 11The counsel of the Lord stands for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. 12Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.
13The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all humankind. 14From where he sits enthroned he watches all the inhabitants of the earth— 15he who fashions the hearts of them all, and observes all their deeds. 16A king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. 17The war horse is a vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save.
Lord,
As I follow the poet, you deserve to be praised because you are God. More than that, you are a supremely ethical God, one who is inherently moral. You created the world to embody your justice and righteousness.
Now he comes to the “nations”. Standing next to you, no nation has much to brag about. Those who would create their own “wisdom” and an independent sense of power, apart from your wisdom and ethical structure, will come to nothing – sounds like annihilation to me.
Lord, we must remember the poet’s wisdom, “A king is not saved by his great army.” That which contradicts the Creator and the Creator’s ethical universe, you and your universe, will, some day becomes nothing. But there is another way, your way, that leads to life.
Now Lord, now that we know the rule, what is the strategy? How do we, as a people, attune ourselves to you and your way?
Show us the way. Show me my way.
PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Ask God to lead you to see and follow your personal path to bring the nations into conformity with God’s ethical universe.
Name 5 things for which your are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.”
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
13The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all humankind. 14From where he sits enthroned he watches all the inhabitants of the earth— 15he who fashions the hearts of them all, and observes all their deeds. 16A king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. 17The war horse is a vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save.
Lord,
As I follow the poet, you deserve to be praised because you are God. More than that, you are a supremely ethical God, one who is inherently moral. You created the world to embody your justice and righteousness.
Now he comes to the “nations”. Standing next to you, no nation has much to brag about. Those who would create their own “wisdom” and an independent sense of power, apart from your wisdom and ethical structure, will come to nothing – sounds like annihilation to me.
Lord, we must remember the poet’s wisdom, “A king is not saved by his great army.” That which contradicts the Creator and the Creator’s ethical universe, you and your universe, will, some day becomes nothing. But there is another way, your way, that leads to life.
Now Lord, now that we know the rule, what is the strategy? How do we, as a people, attune ourselves to you and your way?
Show us the way. Show me my way.
PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Ask God to lead you to see and follow your personal path to bring the nations into conformity with God’s ethical universe.
Name 5 things for which your are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.”
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Psalm 33
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth. 7He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle; he put the deeps in storehouses.
8Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 9For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
Lord,
As I read this poet, first he exhorts praise, second he affirms your highly ethical character and third he reflects on your creation. We praise you because the creation itself is marked by your justice and righteousness – so the poet seems to imply.
We know all about “The Law of the Jungle”; The big cats eat Bambi! But the poet doesn’t seem to be thinking about the laws of the animal kingdom. This poet is moving towards your expectation of the nations, your expectation of human nature. Woven into the fabric of the universe is your expectation that humanity, individually and corporately, will conform to your character. What a mess we’ve made of it!
So how does all of this fit with the debate about health care and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the Palestinian conflict and racial stress in America and children in poverty? You know, O Lord, and in some measure, so do we.
PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Ask God for wisdom and will to personally reflect God’s character in the affairs that so powerfully shape the lives of God’s children everywhere.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
8Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 9For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
Lord,
As I read this poet, first he exhorts praise, second he affirms your highly ethical character and third he reflects on your creation. We praise you because the creation itself is marked by your justice and righteousness – so the poet seems to imply.
We know all about “The Law of the Jungle”; The big cats eat Bambi! But the poet doesn’t seem to be thinking about the laws of the animal kingdom. This poet is moving towards your expectation of the nations, your expectation of human nature. Woven into the fabric of the universe is your expectation that humanity, individually and corporately, will conform to your character. What a mess we’ve made of it!
So how does all of this fit with the debate about health care and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the Palestinian conflict and racial stress in America and children in poverty? You know, O Lord, and in some measure, so do we.
Well, perhaps we know what we want to know or what our fears and greed allow us to know.
PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Ask God for wisdom and will to personally reflect God’s character in the affairs that so powerfully shape the lives of God’s children everywhere.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Psalm 33
For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. 5He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.
Lord,
The words that the poet uses to describe your character:
Upright
Faithfulness
Righteousness
Justice
Steadfast love
And the Genesis writer declares that we were made in your image!
What do you think when you see this world populated be women and men “made in your image"?
What do you think when you look at me as one made in your image?
How do I measure up against this check-list; upright, fruitful, righteous, just and steadfastly loving?
I immediately run to Christ, to forgiveness and grace and I am grateful. But I don’t want to cop out either. I don’t want to use grace as an excuse for bailing out on my own essential identity, "made in your own image". So I pray that you will shape my character to conform to your own and forgive me when I fail.
I just noticed; I immediately went from a description of your character to a preoccupation with my own. For some reason, I did not give a lot of time to thinking about You. How’s that for arrogance and self-absorption? These next quiet moments I give myself to you, considering you and your character and offering prayer and praise. You are God; upright, faithful, righteous, just and steadfastly loving.
PERSONAL PRAYERS:
In God’s presence, consider God’s character.
Ask God to shape your character to conform to God’s own.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
Lord,
The words that the poet uses to describe your character:
Upright
Faithfulness
Righteousness
Justice
Steadfast love
And the Genesis writer declares that we were made in your image!
What do you think when you see this world populated be women and men “made in your image"?
What do you think when you look at me as one made in your image?
How do I measure up against this check-list; upright, fruitful, righteous, just and steadfastly loving?
I immediately run to Christ, to forgiveness and grace and I am grateful. But I don’t want to cop out either. I don’t want to use grace as an excuse for bailing out on my own essential identity, "made in your own image". So I pray that you will shape my character to conform to your own and forgive me when I fail.
I just noticed; I immediately went from a description of your character to a preoccupation with my own. For some reason, I did not give a lot of time to thinking about You. How’s that for arrogance and self-absorption? These next quiet moments I give myself to you, considering you and your character and offering prayer and praise. You are God; upright, faithful, righteous, just and steadfastly loving.
PERSONAL PRAYERS:
In God’s presence, consider God’s character.
Ask God to shape your character to conform to God’s own.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Psalm 33
1Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous. Praise befits the upright. 2Praise the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings. 3Sing to him a new song; play skilfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
Lord,
Here I confess my learning disability.
“Rejoice in the Lord”, I do with joy. But the lyre and harp and strings are beyond my ability. What’s a non-musician to do? The poet said, “play skillfully on strings”. That leaves most of us out.
I think that I could do it if music were indeed an instrument of praise. But in recent years, instead of being an instrument of praise, it’s been an occasion for performance and narcissistic self-aggrandizement. I recently attended “worship” and came away wondering if the organ was God and You were merely an excuse to listen to the music. The preacher nearly apologized for preaching the sermon!
Forgive me Lord. I really don’t want to be this way. But I am weary of the arguments and the egos and even the wars that have marked my church musical experience.
In a few minutes, I’ll go to worship and try again to praise you with singing but, please do not expect too much. Forgive me where I am wrong.
Don’t let me stop here. The poet began with the word “Rejoice.” For the beauty of this day, the deep security of your love, the promise that you listen even to my nonsense, the guidance of your Spirit, the life, death, and resurrection of your Son, the joy of abiding friendship, the memory of loving parents, the experience of children and grandchildren, a lifetime with a loving wife, the hope of heaven and more than I can enumerate, I rejoice and give you thanks.
PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Be aware of God’s presence and declare your joy.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen
Lord,
Here I confess my learning disability.
“Rejoice in the Lord”, I do with joy. But the lyre and harp and strings are beyond my ability. What’s a non-musician to do? The poet said, “play skillfully on strings”. That leaves most of us out.
I think that I could do it if music were indeed an instrument of praise. But in recent years, instead of being an instrument of praise, it’s been an occasion for performance and narcissistic self-aggrandizement. I recently attended “worship” and came away wondering if the organ was God and You were merely an excuse to listen to the music. The preacher nearly apologized for preaching the sermon!
Forgive me Lord. I really don’t want to be this way. But I am weary of the arguments and the egos and even the wars that have marked my church musical experience.
In a few minutes, I’ll go to worship and try again to praise you with singing but, please do not expect too much. Forgive me where I am wrong.
Don’t let me stop here. The poet began with the word “Rejoice.” For the beauty of this day, the deep security of your love, the promise that you listen even to my nonsense, the guidance of your Spirit, the life, death, and resurrection of your Son, the joy of abiding friendship, the memory of loving parents, the experience of children and grandchildren, a lifetime with a loving wife, the hope of heaven and more than I can enumerate, I rejoice and give you thanks.
PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Be aware of God’s presence and declare your joy.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Psalm 32
10Many are the torments of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord. 11Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
Lord,
“Steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.”
Lord, I pray for your blessing and my best guess is that this is the blessing that underlies all others blessings, your “steadfast love.” I’m wondering how many hours of fretting would never have been if I had trusted in your steadfast love. How many times would “gut-emptiness” not have happened if I had but trusted? How many knee-jerk reactions and impulsive decisions?
Erickson said that the very first issue in life, nearly from the moment of birth, revolves around the question of trust. Upon that, says the psychologist, everything else depends. If it is true psychologically, it is even more true spiritually. Everything depends upon the development of trust in your steadfast love.
So Lord, is this trust a gift or is it something that is developed or grown? I’m thinking that both dimensions are necessary. You give the possibility but I must receive it and nurture it. It is a gift-seed to be grown, or so it seems to me. Lord, grow in me the seed of trust in your steadfast love.
PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Say to God, “I trust in our steadfast love. Help my distrust.”
Name 5 things for which your are grateful and say “thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
Lord,
“Steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.”
Lord, I pray for your blessing and my best guess is that this is the blessing that underlies all others blessings, your “steadfast love.” I’m wondering how many hours of fretting would never have been if I had trusted in your steadfast love. How many times would “gut-emptiness” not have happened if I had but trusted? How many knee-jerk reactions and impulsive decisions?
Erickson said that the very first issue in life, nearly from the moment of birth, revolves around the question of trust. Upon that, says the psychologist, everything else depends. If it is true psychologically, it is even more true spiritually. Everything depends upon the development of trust in your steadfast love.
So Lord, is this trust a gift or is it something that is developed or grown? I’m thinking that both dimensions are necessary. You give the possibility but I must receive it and nurture it. It is a gift-seed to be grown, or so it seems to me. Lord, grow in me the seed of trust in your steadfast love.
PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Say to God, “I trust in our steadfast love. Help my distrust.”
Name 5 things for which your are grateful and say “thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Psalm 32
I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 9Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you.
Lord,
What an amazing promise, “I will instruct you…teach you…counsel you.” Jesus promised to send a counselor, an advocate, a paraclete. You are the instructor. What an amazing promise it is!
Now the question, how are we to learn your lessons? How are we to discern your instruction? The answer we know but tend to ignore: Jesus, scripture, community, prayer, attentiveness to the still small silent voice.
Be the instructor, teacher and counselor of my life, today and every day, O Lord.
Personal Prayers: Ask God to lead you in the way that you should go today – large matters and small.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
Lord,
What an amazing promise, “I will instruct you…teach you…counsel you.” Jesus promised to send a counselor, an advocate, a paraclete. You are the instructor. What an amazing promise it is!
Now the question, how are we to learn your lessons? How are we to discern your instruction? The answer we know but tend to ignore: Jesus, scripture, community, prayer, attentiveness to the still small silent voice.
Be the instructor, teacher and counselor of my life, today and every day, O Lord.
Personal Prayers: Ask God to lead you in the way that you should go today – large matters and small.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Psalm 32
Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you;at a time of distress,* the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them. 7You are a hiding-place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. Selah
Lord,
“Let all who are faithful offer prayer to you.” Do we pray because we are faithful or are we faithful because we offer prayer? This morning I pray that you will make me faithful. I ask that through the course of this day, I will be attentive to your wisdom and grace. And I pray that through the course of this day, I may hear, as Jesus heard a the time of his baptism, “This is my son and I am well pleased.”
Personal Prayers:
Pray that you will be attentive to the grace of God through this day.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
Lord,
“Let all who are faithful offer prayer to you.” Do we pray because we are faithful or are we faithful because we offer prayer? This morning I pray that you will make me faithful. I ask that through the course of this day, I will be attentive to your wisdom and grace. And I pray that through the course of this day, I may hear, as Jesus heard a the time of his baptism, “This is my son and I am well pleased.”
Personal Prayers:
Pray that you will be attentive to the grace of God through this day.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.
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