Psalm 4

Psalm 4 (NRSV)
1 Answer me when I call, O God of my right!
You gave me room when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.
2 How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame?
How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies? Selah
3 But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.
4 When you are disturbed,a do not sin;
ponder it on your beds, and be silent. Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the Lord.
6 There are many who say, “O that we might see some good!
Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!”
7 You have put gladness in my heart
more than when their grain and wine abound.
8 I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.
[1]

Dear Lord,

“The light of your face”, may it shine upon us. Please God, let it be so.

Here is my suspicion. I become so enthralled with the darkness in this world that I don’t see the light even when it is shining. I see shadows and fail to remember that shadows are the product of light. Forgive me this nonsense.

Grant me grace to see the beauty that surrounds us and the grace that envelops us and the mystery within which we live and move and have our being. Give me time each day to look for the marks of goodness and grace.

Recently, I spoke with a man who has cancer. It is tough and dark and difficult and threatens to be deadly. He told me about pilots who have flown his family back and forth to the hospital, free of charge. Lord, I cannot ignore the dark power of the disease but I also want to see clearly the bright light of goodness in the mission of those volunteer pilots.

Jesus said, “Seek and you shall find.” How true it is that when we seek the signs of grace and beauty and kindness and goodness, when we seek the marks of your Spirit, they are indeed there to be found.

Open my eyes that I might see….

For the comfort of your presence and the security that allows sleep in the night, thank you.

Ask God to help you to see the good things that fill your life.
Name five things for which you are grateful to God.
Speak the prayers that are stirring in your heart.

In Christ’s name.
Amen

a Or are angry

[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989