Prayer To Experience The Stability Of Living With God's Word
Sunday July 5, 2020
WORD OF GOD
Back in the 1970's there were a number of groups beginning to record contemporary Christian songs. I bought the cassette tapes and learned many of the songs. A couple from New Zealand - David and Dale Garratt produced numerous collections of these under the label of Scripture in Song. Through the magic of Youtube I took a trip down memory lane recently and listened to some of them. These songs were distinctive in that many were direct quotations from the Bible set to music - hence the Scripture in Song label.
The truth is, I don't need Youtube to remind me. One of my daily habits is to read a selection from the Psalms in the morning along with other readings from a planned scheduled called a lectionary. The last thing of my day is a phone call with my friend Evelyn and we read the evening Psalm together and pray. Over and over again the words of these Psalms spark the memory of those 1970's melodies. I’ll read a verse and the music will be with me
Music has been one method that I've used to hide God's word in my heart - the easiest I would say. The Bible reminds us that the effect of doing that is this:
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11
So today, during these uncertain times of the pandemic and all the changes and adjustments surrounding safe physical distancing I thought we could take hope and find comfort as we remember all that comes from simply spending time with God reading His word. Let's pray:
Heavenly Father, we are grateful to know You and that You go to great lengths to help us see how to live well in relationship with You and walk safely in this day.
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Psalm 119:105
and we pray to be wise enough to turn on that light by reading and asking You to write your word into our hearts and minds today.
How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word.
Psalm 119:9
I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path.
Psalm 119:104
Thank you for wisdom and understanding in how to live pure. It's so easy to be taken in my false messages that focus on ways of meeting needs that are selfish and unholy. Help us to read and learn and adjust our ways to line up with what You show us in Your word.
You are my refuge and my shield;
I have put my hope in your word.
Psalm 119:114
We need safety and a place of refuge during difficult times and we're so grateful that You are always there to be found, always available to steady us and to focus our thoughts and emotions on things that are life giving and comforting.
Trouble and distress have come upon me,
but your commands give me delight.
Psalm 119:143
No matter how things rise and fall in our circumstances, we're safe when we have Your truths to show us the way.
I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word.
Psalm 119:25
My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.
Psalm 119:28
During hard times you have words of life that give us strength. When pressures pile up around us and difficulties seem to overwhelm, we know that we can find what we need for standing stable and strong in Your word.
Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word.
Psalm 119:37
I will walk about in freedom,
for I have sought out your precepts.
Psalm 119:45
Teach me knowledge and good judgment,
for I trust your commands.
Psalm 119:66
We truly are powerless to do this day on our own and without You our lives are unmanageable. And so today we need the instruction and shaping that Your words give us so we don't get distracted by worthless things and with sound judgment we make the many decisions that every day requires of us. We are grateful that we know we can walk with freedom as we base what we think and do on Your words.
Your promises have been thoroughly tested,
and your servant loves them.
Psalm 119:140
Great peace have those who love your law,
and nothing can make them stumble.
Psalm 119:165
Thank you for the peace and settledness we enter into as we read and reflect on Your word. We don't even have to wait until we try out Your promises on our own because we have the stories and experience of so many through thousands of years who have shown us that Your promises have been thoroughly tested and found to be safe words to lean into.
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.
Psalm 119:18
And so today our simple prayer is that You would open our eyes so we would see wonderful things in your law. We'll open our Bible. We'll play it on our phone. We'll read Your word on an app - however it is available to us today, and we'll trust You to help us recognize wonderful words of comfort and instruction that we need for what we are facing in this day.
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