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.
Read
Prayer for Guidance and for Deliverance
Of David.
1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust;
do not let me be put to shame;
do not let my enemies exult over me.
3 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
6 Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!
8 Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
Reflect
In you O Lord I put my trust. What a beautiful way to begin a Psalm. What a beautiful to begin our season of Advent!
Advent is a time of hopeful anticipation. We anticipate the celebration of the birth of Christ and his eventual return. As we continue our journey let us like the Psalmist put OUR trust in the Lord.
Trusting the Lord is often easier said than done. Trust is a big word that we sometimes flippantly spit out, but do we really mean it? I can think of many times that I told my children that I trusted they would have the chores done by the time I got home. Did I mean it? Of course not! I knew my kids would play video games or watch TV, anything but do the chores I asked them to complete. The same thing I would have done when I was their age. SAYING you trust someone and then ACTUALLY trusting them are two different things.
When you read this Psalm understand this isn’t merely saying the words, I trust you, Lord. If you really read these words, the trust is meant, the trust is felt.
The Psalmist is asking the Lord in whom he is trusting, for guidance, for teaching, but also forgiveness and grace. As you begin your day today, in hopeful anticipation of the return of Christ, let us truly put our trust in the Lord.
Pray
Gracious and loving God, we believe that you came, that you sacrificed, that you have kept every promise you ever made, and someday you will come back just as you said you would. Help us today to truly trust you. To be able to trust you in the big things but also in the small things. Help us be emboldened in hard times to know that you are the promise keeper and worthy of our trust. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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