Psalm 86 – poor and needy, opens with David pleading with God to hear him for he is “poor and needy.” Poor and needy? He was king. What was he talking about? Psalm 86 Psalm 86 is listed as a prayer by David. It is a beautiful, simple humble prayer of trust in God. David […]
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In Psalm 63 – thirst, the writer speaks of his thirst. What does he thirst for? What do you thirst for? Psalm 63 Psalm 63 – thirst, begins with the writer searching for God. The superscription tells us that this psalm was written by David when he was in the desert. David thirsts for God, […]
Read More Most of us know what it means to be overwhelmed. To overwhelm is to bury or drown beneath a huge mass; defeat completely; have strong emotional effect on; and overpower. We may be overwhelmed at work, buried under paperwork; overwhelmed by strong emotions after a loss. In Psalm 61 – overwhelmed, David is overwhelmed. Why […]
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In Psalm 51 – have mercy, the author asks God for mercy because of God’s steadfast, unfailing love. Some translations say God’s merciful love. What is the nature of this mercy? How do we receive it? Psalm 51 This psalm, attributed to David, begins with a heartfelt cry: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your […]
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A friend and mentor of mine had a framed poster on her wall entitled, The Seasons of a Woman’s Life, which featured a circle depicting the lifespan of a woman. I spent many hours contemplating this poster as I sat with her and reflected on God’s working in my life. I’ve been thinking about these […]
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Psalm 38 – do not punish me in your anger. So begins Psalm 38. What does this psalm have to teach us about prayer? And what does it teach us about God? Psalm 38 – For Remembrance Psalm 38 is a penitential psalm, attributed to David. The superscription for Psalm 38 is for remembrance, or […]
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When you are in trouble, who do you call? In Psalm 28 – I call on the rock, the psalmist says. Who is this rock and what is the nature of this call? Psalm 28 Psalm 28 is a lament. The writer calls on God, asks God to hear his prayer, to not remain silent […]
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Our psalm for this week is a prayer made for someone else. We hear in the first line of Psalm 20 – the Lord answer you. Who are they praying for and what do they want for this person? Psalm 20 Psalm 20 is a prayer for the king. The psalmist is praying for victory […]
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Today I join with the psalmist in praying Psalm 9 – I will give thanks! Thank you, God, for blessings bestowed, for your love and mercy, for you. What is the writer of Psalm 9 thanking God for? Psalm 9 The writer of Psalm 9 begins with words of praise and thanksgiving: “I will give […]
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It’s a beginner’s lesson, learning that not every voice you hear in prayer comes from God. And yet, with over sixty years of a life committed to seeking God’s will, I can still fall into that common error. So I’m forced to remind myself again and again, not every voice you hear in prayer comes […]
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