Devotions for November 5, 2020

 

Prayer

My God, I pray to you this new day. I am giving you thanks for all that I see around me,… I am giving you thanks for all that I do not see, that is still in your hand,… I am grateful for your providence and protection, giving thanks for all those that I love and do not know which you have helped,… I return to your work a portion of your generous giving to me and I pray for your discernment how to participate more deeply in your work,… I ask for your forgiveness and ask for your renewal for some things I would prefer to forget, but you call for repentance,… I pray for the remaining work of justice and peace in my part of the neighborhood and throughout your beautiful Creation. Lead me to greater and gentler care of this world, as a good steward, and let me be an example for others. For all these things, that I know you lovingly hear, I thank you, my precious deliverer. Amen.

 

Psalm 70

Be pleased, O God, to deliver me. O Lord, make haste to help me!

Let those be put to shame and confusion who seek my life. Let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire to hurt me.

Let those who say, “Aha, Aha!” turn back because of their shame.

Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!”

But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!

 

Reflection

I am sure you have probably heard the saying, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” The meaning implied is that they wanted to do something worthwhile, but didn’t follow through with it. Such sayings can be a jab, or even a passive aggressive insult. “You didn’t try hard enough!”

This short psalm is a short and desperate plea for help in the middle of much more serious situations. Dark times come to us all, and this Psalm is a good one to turn to for finding a prayerful voice. Emotions are clearly near their breaking point. The psalmist can’t even sing lengthy lyrics! (Consider Psalm 119’s length!) When words are failing you, turn to God. When you are feeling unable to sing or be joyful, lift a short prayer to God for deliverance.

It can also be a helpful reference point for most of us to recognize our relative comfort and ease. “Things are not that bad.” This can be a rich spiritual moment to consider the spectrum of where you have been and where you are now. Remember how God has been with you. Consider those who might need you and the strength of your perspective from the “other side.” Comforting words can sound a lot like, “I have been where you are and it is incredibly hard, but God was with me. Would you like me to tell you about that time?”