Dear Ones,
One of the beautiful things about the sacred book of Psalms is that it reminds us of the depth and breadth of human emotions. The Psalmists seem to have none of our squeamishness about expressing hurt, anger, fear, resentment, joy or ecstasy. There is no stiff upper lip. There is no feeling of the need to apologize for uncontrollable laughter or tears. The Psalmists somehow embrace the truth that for those who are made in the image of God, all of our emotions are somehow willed, useful and holy. Now I do not mean to imply that every feeling and every whim is to be followed without reflection as if it were a lightning bolt from above. Emotions without reflection can be cruel task masters and cleverly disguised narcisism. Still, the Psalms remind us that all that we feel is appropriate to bring to our lives of prayer. When we feel joy or awe, we are invited to bring that to God and to release those emotions as prayer. When we feel fear or discouragement we are also invited to bring those feelings to God without censorship. When we feel anger or resentment, even that we can humbly offer to God. God created us, knows us and wants us to bring all that we know of ourselves into that sacred relationship. So this month, I invite you to take on as a spiritual practice noticing what you are feeling. Notice without judgment and lift what you notice to the Lord as a prayer. God will work with your emotions to move you into deeper relationship and more profound transformation. Just open up! For this month’s scripture and prayer, I have chosen snippets from the Psalms that show the whole host of human emotions. I hope that sitting quietly with these words for a few moments each day will be meaningful for you in your journey.
Yours in Christ,
Eugenia
Daily Scripture and Prayer October 2018
1st – Psalm 46:1-2a “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear..”
Dear God, help me today to nestle into you. If fear and worry enter my mind,
turn my thoughts to you, trusting you for everything I need today. Amen.
2nd – Psalm 46: 10a “Be still and know that I am God!”
Dear God, I am rattled and frazzled! There is more to do than I can do. Still me, O
God, quiet my heart and mind. Remind me that you are God and I don’t have to be.
Amen.
3rd – Psalm 46:11 “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”
Dear God, you have been faithful to us throughout all time. I thank you that I can
find refuge and peace in your today. I know you are with me and it is enough!
Amen.
4th – Psalm 47:1 “Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of
joy.”
Dear God, what a beautiful day, sun or rain, warm or cold, the world is filled with
your exquisite creativity. O God, I rejoice in you. If I become glum, today, remind
me of this moment! Amen.
5th – Psalm 47:2 “For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome…”
Dear God, I have no adequate words to describe your greatness and majesty. When I
think of you, I am humbled to my core. Thank you God for befriending me, for
forgiving so much and loving me still. Amen.
6th – Psalm 48:1 “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised…”
Dear God, today I want to focus on praise. When I praise you there is no room in me
for doubt, anxiety or fear. It is like I turn into a drop of joy. All day long, may my
experiences each remind me of your glory. Amen.
7th – Psalm 48:9 “We ponder your steadfast love, O God…”
Dear God, when I consider your love for me, I can hardly take it in. Help me please,
to show a glimpse of that love to others today. Amen.
8th – Psalm 48:10 “Your name, O God, like your praise, reaches to the ends of the
earth.”
Dear God, our world contains so much sorrow. Help me to remember that you are
always there with the hurting and give me courage to work tirelessly on their behalf.
Amen.
9th – Psalm 49:5a “Why should I fear in time of trouble?...”
Dear God, why in the world am I ever afraid? In the end there is nothing that can
ever harm me. Take my fears and fill up their place with love and peace. Amen.
10th – Psalm 50:3a “Our God comes and does not keep silence…”
Dear God, thank you for the many large and small ways that you speak to me this
day. Open my heart to hear you and to respond to your leading. Amen.
11th – Psalm 50:6a “The heavens declare God’s righteousness.”
Dear God, last night the stars seemed to smile at me. It was your smile, spread
across the heavens. Help me to notice your handiwork today. Amen.
12th – Psalm 51:1a “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love.”
Dear God, I just never seem to get it quite right. I fall short of your ways so often.
Forgive me, God, and remind me of your great love for me. Amen.
13th – Psalm 51:2 “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my
sins.
Dear God, I need a spiritual shower today! Take away the grime of failure and rinse
me sparkling clean. Amen.
14th – Psalm 51:6 “You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom
in my secret heart.”
Dear God, help me to listen today more than speak. Make me a teachable creature.
Amen.
15th – Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit
within me.”
Dear God, fill me with newness today, even if I seem stuck and feel very old. Remind
me that with you I can start afresh. Amen.
16th – Psalm 51:15 “O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.”
Dear God, please give me the opportunity to bless others today by sharing your
goodness and love. Amen.
17th – Psalm 52:8b – “I trust the steadfast love of God forever and ever.”
Dear God, sometimes my trust seems to falter. I believe, but I have trouble relying
upon you when things get difficult. Deepen by trust, O God, that I may live in peace
and witness in joy. Amen.
18th – Psalm 52:9a “I will thank you forever, because of what you have done.”
Dear God, you have saved me more times than I even know. Without your care and
provision I know I would not even be alive. I thank you forever! Amen.
19th – Psalm 52:9b “In the presence of the faithful I will proclaim your name, for it is
good.”
Dear God, please give me courage today to speak of you, and to use words if I have
to. Amen.
20th – Psalm 53:1 “Fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God.’”
Dear God, I pray today for those who do not know you, those who cannot believe in
you, those who must go their way so alone. Touch them, God. Use me, if you will it.
Amen.
21st – Psalm 53:2 “God looks down from heaven on humankind to see if there are any
who are wise, who seek after God.”
Dear God, when I look around our public life these days, I do not see a lot of wisdom.
Find us, O God, and show us your ways. Amen.
22nd – Psalm 53:6a “O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion!”
Dear God, today I pray for your holy land and all the peoples who call it home. Amen
23rd – Psalm 54:1 “Save me, O God, by your name, and vindicate me by your might.”
Dear God, help me to give up the need to control how others think of me. Help me to
leave that to you. Amen.
24th – Psalm 54:2 “Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.”
Dear God, today I pour out my whole heart to you. Here is what I want to tell
you……….. Thank you for listening. Amen.
25th – Psalm 54:4 “But surely, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.”
Dear God, I have waked up tired today. I don’t even know why. I need you, O my
Helper. Fill me with the energy I need to live this day in joy and peace. Amen.
26th – Psalm 54:6 “With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to
your name, O Lord, for it is good.”
Dear God, I am thinking today of how I can give to you. Help me to listen to what
you want and not count the cost. Amen.
27th – Psalm 55:1 “Give ear to my prayer, O God; do not hide yourself from my
supplication.”
Dear God, I have many people on my heart this morning. There is much that I want
to ask of you. Thank you for your attention to my every need. Amen.
28th – Psalm 55:2a “Attend to me, and answer me; I am troubled in my complaint.
I am distraught by the noise of the enemy…”
Dear God, the destructive forces in our world seem so powerful. I am sick of seeing
the poor tyrannized, the weak exploited, the foolish manipulated. O God, please
intervene! Amen.
29th – Psalm 55:6 “And I say, “O that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be
at rest…”
Dear God, I want to run away! Help me to remember that I can take refuge in you
and help to meet the challenges of today with faith and courage. Amen.
30th – Psalm 55:22 “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you…”
Dear God, I offer you today each one of my burdens and cares. I cast them to you
like a strong-armed pitcher. Catch them and deal with them for me, please. Amen.
31st – Psalm 56:4 “In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I am not afraid; what
can flesh do to me?”
Dear God, remind me today that I am safe in you. Nothing can harm me.
You will never leave me. Alleluia! Amen.