Focus

Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.

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Read

Psalm 20 (NRSV)

The LORD answer you in the day of trouble!
The name of the God of Jacob protect you!
May he send you help from the sanctuary,
and give you support from Zion.
May he remember all your offerings,
and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices. Selah

May he grant you your heart’s desire,
and fulfill all your plans.
May we shout for joy over your victory,
and in the name of our God set up our banners.
May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.

Now I know that the LORD will help his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with mighty victories by his right hand.
Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses,
but our pride is in the name of the LORD our God.
They will collapse and fall,
but we shall rise and stand upright.

Give victory to the king, O LORD;
answer us when we call.

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Reflect

Some years ago, I found myself sitting at a vesper service for junior-junior high youth. A minister I did not know was leading this service. The worship leader told the group that a celebrity was camping near us. The group got excited and applauded. The worship leader read this verse from Psalm 20 and told the youth that if they prayed for the celebrity to come visit with us, then it would happen. Of course, this group of young people agreed. I had my doubts about all this, but I was not in leadership. They all gathered with hands one another as the minister prayed, sharing this was the desire of the group’s hearts and we would plan for this to happen. All left excited over the visit that they expected to happen the next night.

The next afternoon, we got on the bus to go to the swimming pool even though it was cloudy and looked like rain. When we got to the pool, everyone was hesitant to go in because it looked stormy. This same minister called them all to join with him in claiming their desire for sunshine so they could enjoy their swim. About that time, the bottom fell out and it started lightning and thundering as well. I was glad another minister addressed this experience at the next vesper service. Psalm 20 seeks God’s help for the ruler or for those going into battle. It is a prayer for victory, as is stated in my Bible.

I am glad God has not always granted me the desires of my heart and that God did not fulfill all my plans. There were times on my journey of faith that if God had given me what I thought I wanted, it would not have been good for me. We can’t be followers of Jesus Christ and follow our own desires and plans. We must make a choice. I could have never known to desire or plan the roads that God has taken me down, but I have been so blessed on the journey.

What might God be leading or calling you to experience at this point in your life? Where might the journey go if you are willing to follow and receive what God has for you? Being open to God’s leading is how we receive the desires of our heart and fulfill our plans.

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Pray

Holy and gracious God, help us to be willing to follow Jesus Christ in all that we do and say. Thank you for those times in our lives when you carried us where we needed to be, even if we did not know where we were going. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Go with God.