20th. May. 2022. Daily Devotion.
4 Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favour lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalm 30:4-5
I was lost, but now I am found!” “I was on the brink of death, but now I am healed!” “I was drowning in despair, but now I have hope!” Words like these are a strong testimony to the power of God to save, heal, and restore.
Psalm 30 gives us a similar testimony. God has heard the psalmist’s prayers, and the writer rejoices at the way God has answered so completely. Indeed, tears of grief turn to tears of joy, and the sound of wailing is replaced with singing and dancing.
By thanking God publicly, the psalmist invites others to share in his joy and praise. “This is who God is,” he is saying, in effect, to his fellow worshipers; “God is the one who saved me, and here is how he did it.”
Experiencing God’s deliverance isn’t something we can easily forget. It changes the way we live, the way we worship, and the way we pray.
Does anyone near you today need to hear this testimony to answered prayer? It’s important that they hear it so that they can dare to pray their prayers for help. We all need the assurance that God hears and responds to our prayers. Who needs to hear your testimony today? T. Leunk.
O Lord our God, you take away our grief and replace it with joy. Help us to know you always hear us and care for us. We give you thanks forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
O eternal and glorious Trinity, deeper than the deepest sea, and the abyss of love for whom we thirst and long; let us forever desire your light, forever seek your face, and forever wrap ourselves in the robe of your glory; world without end. Amen. Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)
Life-giving God, in whose presence there is an abundance of hope and a plenitude of grace, grant that we may build communities of hospitality where bread is shared, forgiveness offered, and justice proclaimed. And so, as our life together is shaped by your love, give us the grace to welcome all our companions to the feast of your kingdom, that there may be joy everlasting in heaven. Amen.
Short prayer of gratitude to God
Thank you for the blessings you give to us of comfort, warmth, and rest. Thank you for the beauty of nature, blue skies, and smiles. Lord, thank you for the pleasure of conversation, intimacy, and love, And for the sustenance of food, drink, and water. Help me to notice and value these rich blessings in my life. May I feel full, whole, and ready to give to those who have little. Amen.
Short prayer for strength at work (a prayer for mental and physical strength)
As I go to work, Be with me Lord. Be the patience when I’m frustrated. Be the endurance when I am tired. Be the wisdom when I am uncertain. Be the inspiration when I’m out of ideas. Be the peacemaker when I feel hurt. Be the comforter when I feel overwhelmed. Be the energy when I am weary. Be the guide when I am confused. Be the forgiver when I get it wrong. Be with me Lord, today. Amen.