Focus

Slow your breathing and become aware of the taking in and letting out of your breath. Focus on putting things aside so you will be open to what God is saying to you today.

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Read

Psalm 67 (NRSV)

May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
that your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.

The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, has blessed us.
May God continue to bless us;
let all the ends of the earth revere him.

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Reflect

The first verse of this psalm sounds very familiar, doesn’t it? The words are similar to those of Aaron in Numbers 6:24-26, “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.” I can hear the song in my head as I am typing these words that are commonly used as a benediction. We often ask for God’s blessing when we pray. In fact, when we ask things of God, we are usually asking for forgiveness or for blessings—for ourselves or others.

What is unique in this psalm is the phrase that comes after the familiar part. “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us,” and in verse 2, “that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations.” The psalmist was asking God to shine upon him so that God’s ways might be known–not for the psalmist’s sake, but so that all nations would know God. How often do we ask for God’s blessing so that others will come to experience God? Yet, shouldn’t that be our prayer every day? It is easy to get caught up in the here and now and forget that God wants everyone to experience saving grace. Let us remember to have a spirit of mission when we ask for God’s blessing, so that through us others may see and know God.

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Pray

Dear Lord, we do ask for blessings and you are so generous to us. We thank you and praise you for the many ways you bless us. Help us to use those blessings in ways that will reflect your love to others. Help us to make sharing your love with others a priority every day. Amen.

Go with God.