He led them by a straight way, till they reached a city to dwell in.
He put your feet on a wonderful road that took you straight to a good place to live.
This journey does not feel like a straight way or a wonderful road. Maybe in retrospect I'll see that the way was straight, but right now it feels like I tried to follow the detour signs and got lost. I have been struggling with this verse for days and I can't seem to get farther than that.
Lord, lead me by a straight wonderful road to a good place to live. Thy will be done. Amen.
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Friday, October 9, 2015
Psalm 106:47
Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to thy holy name and glory in thy praise.
Save us, God, our God! Gather us back out of exile so we can give thanks to your holy name and join in the glory when you are praised!
According to my study Bible, this psalms tells "the story of God's great deeds," and stresses "the perversity and obtuseness of the people." Obtuse means "not able to understand something obvious." This makes me think of all the times I think or say that I don't understand why I have episodes of depression, just as the people of the Exodus didn't understand why they were in the desert. I'm really saying, "Why me?" But the question "why me" does not bring us back out of exile; it keeps us in exile. In the exile of "why me" there is no acceptance and no action. This psalm tells us to let ourselves be gathered up out of exile and into God's mercy.
Lord, bring me out of the exile of depression and the "perversity and obtuseness" of asking, "Why me?" Gather me into your mercy. Amen.
Save us, God, our God! Gather us back out of exile so we can give thanks to your holy name and join in the glory when you are praised!
According to my study Bible, this psalms tells "the story of God's great deeds," and stresses "the perversity and obtuseness of the people." Obtuse means "not able to understand something obvious." This makes me think of all the times I think or say that I don't understand why I have episodes of depression, just as the people of the Exodus didn't understand why they were in the desert. I'm really saying, "Why me?" But the question "why me" does not bring us back out of exile; it keeps us in exile. In the exile of "why me" there is no acceptance and no action. This psalm tells us to let ourselves be gathered up out of exile and into God's mercy.
Lord, bring me out of the exile of depression and the "perversity and obtuseness" of asking, "Why me?" Gather me into your mercy. Amen.
Friday, October 2, 2015
Psalm 105:4
Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his presence continually!
Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works; be alert for signs of his presence.
This psalm tells us that one way to keep our eyes open for God is to study what he has already done for his people. The psalm tells the history of the nation of Israel; of Abraham, Joseph, and Moses. The story reminds us that God does not put us on a linear or ever-upward path. God was faithful when Joseph was in prison and when he was overseer of Egypt. Reading the Bible stories of God's faithfulness reminds us of his faithfulness to us. It reminds me of God's faithfulness to me. God is present and working in my life, in the prison of depression and as overseer of my life.
Lord, always help me remember that you are working and present in my life always. Remind me of the stories of your faithfulness, so that I can recognize your faithfulness in my life. Amen.
Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works; be alert for signs of his presence.
This psalm tells us that one way to keep our eyes open for God is to study what he has already done for his people. The psalm tells the history of the nation of Israel; of Abraham, Joseph, and Moses. The story reminds us that God does not put us on a linear or ever-upward path. God was faithful when Joseph was in prison and when he was overseer of Egypt. Reading the Bible stories of God's faithfulness reminds us of his faithfulness to us. It reminds me of God's faithfulness to me. God is present and working in my life, in the prison of depression and as overseer of my life.
Lord, always help me remember that you are working and present in my life always. Remind me of the stories of your faithfulness, so that I can recognize your faithfulness in my life. Amen.
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