Day: August 9, 2020

Be Still Before God (Aug 4)

The 2nd book of Psalms (Ps 42-72)
is similar to the book of Exodus,
as many of these psalms describe
Israel as ruined and then recovered.
These psalms can help us pray for
rescue, confess our sin & trust God.
Psa 42-49 are attributed to sons
of Korah, who served as singers
and musicians in the temple.

Lord,Thank U for Being My Refuge:
God is our Refuge and Strength,
an Ever-Present Help in times
of trouble. So, we will not fear,
when earthquakes come and
Mountains crumble into the sea;
though waters roar & be troubled,
though the mountains shake…
BE STILL and know that I am God…
I will be exalted in the earth!
The Lord of hosts is with us (and)
God is Our Refuge (Ps46:1-3,10-11)

Lord, Your Word says You are ever
Ready To Help in times of trouble.
Forgive me for the times when
I act as though You don’t exist.
Teach me to pull back fr troubles
and instead focus on You. I don’t
have to fear, no matter what I face.
For every moment that I breathe,
You are My Strength. And though
my life may be shaken to its core,
You are still My Refuge. Amen.

Father, when everything in my life
seems on the verge of crumbling &
falling apart, help me to experience You Lord as My Firm Foundation.
For though You’re the Mountain Mover, You also hold creation
steady in the palm of Your hand.
Guide me Lord as I entrust my mountains over to You my solid
and ever faithful Father. Amen.

Lord, my heart may worry for though
You’re on Your throne, but I don’t
know what You are going to do.
Help me Be Still In You, trust You
and give me rest in You. Let me
know You are With me in every
circumstance, no matter how
difficult or even traumatic. And
let me Experience You as a Very
Present Help in trouble. Amen.

God Expects Justice & Integrity

Jeremiah 4-6 paints word picture
of the coming Babylonian invasion.
You can almost hear the hoofbeats
of the horses, the war cries of the
invading Chaldeans, the screams
of anguish from God’s people
as they experience the deadly consequences of their rebellion.
For Judah pursues every kind of loathsome act & proud indulgence.

Jeremiah addresses God’s people
as they head towards exile. Jeremiah
began preaching in the reign of
Josiah as the king ushered reform.
But in less than one generation,
this was all swept away. Spiritual
compromise and complacency
were order of the day & God looked
in vain for a person in Jerusalem
who stood for justice & godliness.
Help us Lord learn from Jeremiah
even as he brings forth Your Word.
Lord, we Confess our Shortcomings;
Lord, we Grasp Your Emotions; and
Lord, we Respond to Your Pleading.
In precious name of Jesus we pray.

Lord, we Respond to Your Pleading:
For thus says the Lord to the
people of Judah and Jerusalem,
surrender your pride and power.
Change your hearts before the
Lord or My anger will burn like
an unquenchable fire because
of all your sins (Jeremiah 4:3-4).
O my soul! I am pained in my very heart… The sound of the trumpet,
the alarm of war. Destruction
upon destruction is cried…
For My people are foolish,
they have not known Me… They
are wise to do evil, but to do good,
they have no knowledge (v19,22).
Lord, we hear Your repeated plea
for Your people to mend their ways.
We can see that You punish only
reluctantly and only as a last resort.
Help us Lord to appreciate Your
compassionate love that You even
send Your Son to die in our place.
Help us share the gospel even as
You hold back judgment. Amen.

Lord, we Confess our Shortcomings:
Let me fear You Lord my God,
who gives autumn and spring rains
in season and who assures us
of the regular weeks of harvest.
My wrongdoings keep me from
experiencing Your blessings,
and my sins deprive me of
the good (Jeremiah 5:24-25).
Lord God, I bring my sins to You…
Spare me the bondage of habitual
sin and the aftermath of regret.
Let the tenderness of Your mercies
incline me towards Your virtues.
And let the pleasures found in You
dwarf all lesser pleasures. Amen.

Lord, Fill us with Your Emotions:
To whom shall I speak and give
warning that they may hear?
Indeed their ear is uncircumcised
and they cannot give heed.
Behold the word of the Lord is
a reproach to them; they have no delight in it. Therefore I am full of
the fury of the Lord (Jer 6:10-11).
Lord, fill me with Your feelings,
regardless of what they are.
Help me love what You love,
rejoice over Your joys and be
angry at whatever angers You.
Shape my heart & let my prayers
and actions flow from what
You have put within me. Amen.