Focus

Place both feet firmly on the ground in front of you. Take a few deep breaths in and out, allowing your mind to prepare for the reading of God’s word.

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Read

Psalm 33:12-22 (NRSV)

Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.

The LORD looks down from heaven;
he sees all humankind.
From where he sits enthroned he watches
all the inhabitants of the earth—
he who fashions the hearts of them all,
and observes all their deeds.
A king is not saved by his great army;
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
The war horse is a vain hope for victory,
and by its great might it cannot save.

Truly the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,
to deliver their soul from death,
and to keep them alive in famine.

Our soul waits for the LORD;
he is our help and shield.
Our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.
Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.

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Reflect

The first verse in the passage printed above sounds odd to us in our current political climate. “A happy nation no one can find” might be a more accurate statement. There is so much toil and turmoil worldwide that it is hard to imagine that happiness could survive anywhere.

Perhaps our inability to find, or even imagine such happiness has to do with where we place our trust. Do we place our trust in our governments? Do we place our trust in military systems? Do we put our trust in human-made institutions? The psalmist is calling the people of that day, and our day, to once again place our trust in God. God who “sees all humankind” looks upon us, hoping that we will respond to the outpouring of God’s steadfast love.

In our times of anguish, fear, loss, and despair, we are called to wait on the Lord who is our help and shield. We are not to look to other leaders to guide us, but to listen to the very calls of our souls begging for the God’s steadfast love to fall upon us.

Where do you see a need for God’s steadfast love today? How can you be an example of God’s love to someone else?

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Pray

God of steadfast love, please remind me of your presence in my life and in the world. There is so much trying to take my attention from you. There are so many other things, people, and institutions clamoring for my allegiance. Help me to reaffirm my faith commitment to you. Encourage me to share your love with others. In your holy name I pray. Amen.

Go with God.