Tag: Prayer

Morning Musing: Psalm 4:2

Leave a comment

“How long, exalted ones, will my honor be insulted? How long will you love what is worthless and pursue a lie? Selah”  (CSB – Read the chapter)

If David’s first cry was up, his second cry is out. When someone else has hurt us or made us angry or dealt us some injustice, it’s okay for us to go ahead and acknowledge that. Refusing to do so both in our hearts and even out loud isn’t somehow holy or righteous. It’s deceitful and dishonest. If you’ve been hurt, claim it. It won’t get any better until you do. Read the rest…

Morning Musing: Psalm 4:1 Part 2

Leave a comment

“Answer me when I call, God, who vindicates me. You freed me from affliction; be gracious to me and hear my prayer.”  (CSB – Read the chapter) ‬‬

So then, where do we turn when we lie down to sleep with a heart that is full of turmoil? Over the course of the eight verses of this Psalm, David turns three places: Up, out, and in. The out and the in are important because, 1. we need to speak (at least metaphorically) to our sources of anxiety from a place of righteousness; and 2. our self-talk in times of emotional distress is really important. But, he begins and ends with up, because with God is where we will ultimately find the resources we need to resolve our tension and when He has provided them we do need to express our gratitude for it. Read the rest…

Morning Musing: 1 Samuel 1:11

Leave a comment

“And she vowed a vow and said, ‘O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.'”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

Check out Hannah’s vow here.  The last major judge of the people of Israel prior to Eli (who, while personally faithful, was not a great father and whose sons were faithfully carrying on the terrible legacy of the era) was Samson.  Given Hannah’s vow here, Samuel was in some ways the anti-Samson. Read the rest…

Digging in Deeper: Daniel 6:10-11

Leave a comment

“When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem.  He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.  Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God.”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

Daniel had been doing this three times a day in this same place for years.  This time, though, had to feel a bit different.  This was the first time he knew he was actively breaking the law by doing it.  And yet, the place and the pattern were both well-worn in his life.  At the time to which he was very much accustomed, Daniel got down on his knees in front of the window in his upper room and prayed.  Shortly afterwards–as he knew would happen–he was arrested and hauled before the king. Read the rest…

Digging in Deeper: Psalm 81:8

Leave a comment

“Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!  O Israel, if you would but listen to me!”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

Do you listen to God?  I don’t know about you, but I can pretty easily find myself in a rut of talking to God a lot, but not stopping to listen very often.  I can get into a pattern of reading God’s word every day because I’m supposed to (especially as a pastor!), but not paying very close attention to what He might want to say to me through it.  Let’s just call it what it is: Listening to God is tough. Read the rest…