Focus

Be still and rest in the Lord.

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Read

Psalm 71:1-6 (NRSV)

Prayer for Lifelong Protection and Help

In you, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline your ear to me and save me.
Be to me a rock of refuge,
a strong fortress, to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of the unjust and cruel.
For you, O Lord, are my hope,
my trust, O LORD, from my youth.
Upon you I have leaned from my birth;
it was you who took me from my mother’s womb.
My praise is continually of you.

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Reflect

I have a dear friend who was recently diagnosed with cancer. As I was reflecting on this scripture, it made me think of her. This disease causes her to bruise easily and to experience pain in her bones. She is often fatigued and weak. She is susceptible to infection so has started wearing a mask when she has to be around a lot of people. This cancer is from the hand of the wicked for her. She has been caught in the grasp of the unjust and cruel. I recently sent her link to a song by The Indigo Girls called “The Wood Song”. One phrase of the lyrics says

“No way construction of this tricky plan
Was built by other than a greater hand
With a love that passes all our understanding
Watching closely over the journey
Yeah but what it takes to cross the great divide
Seems more than all the courage I can muster up inside.”

The psalmist gets this. In times like these it is the one we have leaned on from our birth; who took us from our mother’s womb who can provide us with the strength and peace we need. In God we experience lifelong protection and help no matter how rocky the journey may be.

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Pray

Oh God, our strength and our protector, be with us and fill us with your peace that passes all understanding. Help us to feel your presence during the painful and confusing times in our journey back to you. In Christ’s name, Amen.

Go with God!