Prayer To Find Refreshing and Meaning During These Tough Days

So in these days of social distancing and shut downs due to the pandemic, when the mundane seems to rule the day, is anyone else other than myself interested in something that is perfect, refreshing, trustworthy, radiant, and pure – that makes us wise, gives us joy and light and is enduring?  I’d like a big box of that wouldn’t you?

Well, look with me again at these familiar words from Psalm 19:

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.  Psalm 19:7-10

So as close to us as the Word of God is – in whatever format it’s easiest to access – our phones, tablets, books, blogs, podcasts Youtube, -- we have an amazing gift from our loving Heavenly Father that will more than “meet the need”  to give us joy and energy today.  The question is – where are we looking for what will refresh us and correct us and energize us? 

Are we spending our time looking and longing for what’s “out there?” Sure we miss visits and celebrations with others but when those are not possible we need to remind ourselves God is not limited in His ability to give us joy a joyful and meaningful day in other ways.

We are going to pray today and welcome God to bless us and refresh us using some of the words of Psalm 19 from the Passion translation:

Heavenly Father, we long for refreshing and reviving, during these long days of this pandemic.  Instead of being ground down by ugly case numbers and with social isolation and ongoing restrictions, help us today to find joy in what You are giving.

Loving God, Your Word is perfect in every way; how it revives our souls! Your laws lead us to truth, and Your ways change the simple into wise. Your teachings make us joyful and radiate Your light; Your precepts are so pure! Psalm 19:7-8a

Help us to shift our perspective according to Your word.  Inform our thinking, shift our emotions, and direct our choices so we don’t just do the right thing but we do it with loving motives and joyful hearts.

Your commands, how they challenge us to keep close to Your heart! The revelation-light of Your word makes our spirits shine radiant. Every one of Your commands is right; and following them brings cheer. Nothing You say ever needs to be changed. Psalm 19:8b-9

When we feel like questioning what You are doing – or not doing – and how things are around us, please work in us to expand our understanding and to help us trust You and even delight in what You are doing. 

Your commands warn us, Your  servants, and keep us from following the wicked way, giving a lifetime guarantee: great success to every obedient soul!  Without this revelation-light, how would we ever detect the waywardness of our hearts?   Psalm 19:11-12a

Lord, forgive our hidden flaws whenever you find them. Keep cleansing us, God, and keep us from secret, selfish sins; may they never rule over us! For only then will we be free from fault and remain innocent of rebellion.  Psalm 19:12b-13

We miss too much of the good things You are doing because we are looking for what we want in the way we want it. Forgive us for our arrogance and our lack of gratitude.  Help us today to humble ourselves so we live in the truth.  We do pray for forgiveness for the flaws these stressful days show up in our character. Cleanse us and move us from selfishness to considering other. 

And so we offer all that this day is with these closing words from the Psalm:

So may the words of our mouths, our meditation-thoughts, and every movement of our hearts be always pure and pleasing, acceptable before your eyes, our only Redeemer, our Protector-God.  Psalm 19:14

Now our part in all of this is to spend some time with God’s Word.  Why not replace one show today on TV or Netflix and listen to God’s Word read or watch a video of someone teaching God’s Word.  Be refreshed and renewed today.  God bless.