Focus

Let yourself become open to God and the knowledge that comes from the Word. Ask God for peace at this time.

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Read

Psalm 102:1-17 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

A prayer of one afflicted, when faint and pleading before the Lord.

Hear my prayer, O Lord;
let my cry come to you.

Do not hide your face from me
in the day of my distress.
Incline your ear to me;
answer me speedily in the day when I call.

For my days pass away like smoke,
and my bones burn like a furnace.

My heart is stricken and withered like grass;
I am too wasted to eat my bread.

Because of my loud groaning
my bones cling to my skin.

I am like an owl of the wilderness,
like a little owl of the waste places.

I lie awake;
I am like a lonely bird on the housetop.

All day long my enemies taunt me;
those who deride me use my name for a curse.

For I eat ashes like bread,
and mingle tears with my drink,

because of your indignation and anger;
for you have lifted me up and thrown me aside.

My days are like an evening shadow;
I wither away like grass.

But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever;
your name endures to all generations.

You will rise up and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to favor it;
the appointed time has come.

For your servants hold its stones dear,
and have pity on its dust.

The nations will fear the name of the Lord,
and all the kings of the earth your glory.

For the Lord will build up Zion;
he will appear in his glory.

He will regard the prayer of the destitute,
and will not despise their prayer.

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Reflect

Hope in a Response

In Ps. 102, there are three separate areas of thought, from vs. 1-11 the psalmist is afflicted and is hurting and is sharing his sorrow and pain with God. Verses 12-22 the psalmist wants God to remember his promises to the Church. In verses 23-38 the psalmist is worshipping God, the God who is unchangeable.

The writer of psalms 102 is crying out to God to hear his prayer and for God not to hide his face from him (to desert him). We are all dying creatures, but God is an everlasting God, the protector of His church. We can have confidence that the Church will not be neglected as long as there is a remnant. We are that remnant.

How many times have you cried out to the Lord in hoping a response? I have and I know many of you have cried out unto the Lord. It is the right thing to do. It is right because we are weak and we are sometimes afraid. There are times when we do not want to burden others with our pain and fears, but we can go to our Lord with our pain and afflictions which we are experiencing. (Place all your burdens on me for I care for you) We are afraid that God will not answer our prayers. We are afraid that the answers we may receive may not coincide with our requests, yet we must remember that God is present and He will comfort us.

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Pray

God, you are our help in times of trouble.  We give you thanks for listening to our cries of sorrow and pain.  You have been good to us. Amen

Go with God!