Singers' Prayers

 The book of Psalms sings to us in our troubles.

As we read through the Psalms we hear the "singers" crying out to God.  These songs speak words of anguish, of pain, of worry, of loneliness, of uncertainty.  But they also speak words that reflect assurance and understanding.

Let’s look at one of the singer’s cries for help.

Ps 42:3 (NIV) My tears have been my food day and night while they (people) say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

Are you crying out to God with words like those?  Is sorrow filling your thoughts – are tears your food in the night?  Do you chew on worries?  It’s so easy to do, isn’t it - to let the “problems” in your life become “you”?  

It’s easy to see those problems as who you are, not something external to the “self” of you. 

If I lose a job, or something important in my life, do I see myself this way “I AM A LOSER."  Or if people don’t value my friendship, I may say to the mirror – "I AM UNLOVABLE."  Are you looking at these or other situations and seeing them as who you are?  Wow!  I’ve been there and sometimes, even though I know my position as God’s child in His family, those old thoughts still sometimes haunt my dreams.

The prayers of David and the other “singers” tell us that God is capable of handling all those tears, the anguish, and the problems in our lives.  These particular prayers speak of our assurance from God.

Assurance that God is alive and active.

Assurance that God is good.

Assurance that God cares for His people.

Assurance that God is capable.

And assurance that you are not “your situations” 

because you are a dearly loved child of the King.

The singer prays saying:

How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 36:7 (NIV)

By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42:8 (NIV)

He tells us God is capable. 

I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? Psalm 56:4 (NLT)

My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises! Psalm 57:7 (NLT)

The Psalms tell of the goodness of God.

For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. Psalm 84:11 (NLT)

How kind the LORD is! How good He is! So merciful, this God of ours! Psalm 116:5 (NLT)

Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God? Psalm 71:19 (NLT)

 And finally, the singers remind us that we are on God’s mind.  

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! Psalm 139:17 (NLT)

I’m on His mind.  I’m in His care.

He’s thinking thoughts of me

God sees each stumbling step I take,

and times that I despair.

He sees the worries that I face, 

the hurt, the pain that’s there.

He walks with me and talks to me

He holds me up and comforts me

No matter when or where.

My God is strong enough to hold 

the trials I cannot bear

He is the sun that shines so bright

He is the one who brings the light.

When my darkest thoughts are there.

He is here. He is kind.  He is able.

He is the almighty God.

A Midnight Prayer

 Dear Friends, do you ever lay your head on your pillow at night and wonder if there was any little thing you did or said that would please our God?  I know that sometimes I can’t think of anything terrible that I did – but I wonder if, that day, I even made God smile a little bit.

Yesterday I wrote this prayer – hadn’t planned to post it, but maybe it will touch someone’s heart.  

A prayer of repentance

Evening is closing the chapter “today.”

Many steps I have taken, some people I’ve met.

But many of them I’ve ignored on the way.

Though cocooned from the world in my own little nest

guilt keeps me from rest, holding slumber at bay.

I ponder my actions and thoughts from today

Close by my side, you were there Father, God

as I took every step, not watching the way.

I wonder tonight, is your heart even pleased

with the actions I take and the words that I say.

Gentle shepherd please come, place my sins from today.

In your sea of forgiveness as you promised you would.

With your almighty power take my heart’s guilt away.

Please speak to my soul Gentle Spirit.  

Draw near,

so your voice I will hear in the night wind,

 I pray.

Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

 
Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,