A Psalm of Hope and Deliverance.
Meditative reading from the Message Bible,
Psalm 91.
You who sit down in the high God's presence,
Spend the night in Shaddai's shadow.
Say this,
God you are my refuge,
I trust in you,
And I'm safe.
That's right,
He rescues you from hidden traps,
Shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you,
Under them you are perfectly safe.
His arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing,
Not wild wolves in the night,
Not flying arrows in the day,
Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
Not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around,
Drop like flies right and left,
No harm will even graze you.
You'll stand untouched,
Watch it all from a distance,
Watch the wicked turn into corpses.
Yet because God's your refuge,
The high God your very own home,
Evil can't get close to you.
Harm can't get through the door.
He ordered his angels to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble they'll catch you.
Their job is to keep you from falling.
You'll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,
And kick young lions and serpents from the path.
If you'll hold on to me for dear life,
Says God,
I'll get you out of any trouble.
I'll give you the best of care.
If you'll only get to know and trust me,
Call me and I will answer.
Be at your side in bad times.
I'll rescue you,
Then throw you a party.
I'll give you a long life,
Give you a long drink of salvation.
Our most kind and our righteous and eternal Heavenly Father,
We thank you for this day.
We thank you for your grace.
We thank you for your mercy.
We thank you for your peace,
Your truth,
And your love.
Oh God,
We are in a place of uncertainty in our society today.
We are bombarded on every side by sickness,
Coronavirus.
We're bombarded on every side by death,
Destruction,
Fires,
Turmoil,
Hatred.
Oh God,
We are bombarded as a people,
As a society with hatred,
With disservice,
With unjust attitudes and behaviors.
We are experiencing fear.
We're in shelter in place and we feel,
Oh God,
Closed in on every side.
Our future seems uncertain and we're not sure what to do.
We're not sure what direction to take.
We're not sure what is the right thing to do.
But as your people,
Lord Jesus,
We come to you and we ask you for peace.
We ask you for that peace that passes all understanding.
We ask you for strength,
For courage,
For clarity of thought,
To make optimal decisions.
We ask you for direction.
We ask you,
Oh God,
To love us.
We ask you to undergird us with your strength.
Protect our families.
Protect our children.
Protect our minds.
Protect our jobs.
Protect our loved ones,
Our spouses,
Our extended families.
Oh God,
We are bombarded with feelings of anxiety,
Mental health challenges,
Stressors,
Panic attacks.
We are bombarded with all types of different challenges and sometimes it's just too much.
It feels out of control.
But God,
We believe in you.
We believe in your power.
We believe in your control.
I ask you that you will take everything into consideration.
Take us under control.
Speak to our hearts and remind us of how much you love us.
Remind us of how much,
In spite of the chaos that seems to be going on all around us,
That you know all things.
We trust you.
Our hope is shaken,
But we will reconnect our hope to you.
Our faith is shaken,
But we will reestablish our faith in you.
Remember those that are grieving the loss,
The death of a loved one.
Remember those that are experiencing loved ones in the hospital.
And they cannot go to be with the loved one.
Cover that loved one under your blood.
Heal them,
I pray.
Keep them safe.
Remember our families in the nursing homes and the extended stay facilities.
Remember those of us that even have loved ones that are incarcerated.
God,
This disease COVID-19 that is taking its toll on our society.
We need a reprieve.
We need a stoppage.
We need a break.
They're trying to find a vaccine.
Oh God,
We need you to take this situation into your control.
We need you,
God,
Now more than we ever did in the past.
We need you,
God,
Now more than we ever did before.
Gun violence is on a rampage.
We're losing our children left and right,
Our loved ones.
God,
We need you in a huge way.
Help us to trust you.
Help us to love you.
Help us to depend on you,
To hold on to you tightly.
Help us to rest in the truth of your word that you are in control,
That you understand all things,
That you are aware of what is going on.
Bless us while we sleep.
Keep us safe through the night season.
Wake us in the morning refreshed and restored.
Bless us through the day.
Keep us safe from all attacks,
All danger,
All hurt,
Harm,
Seen and unseen.
Protect our jobs.
Keep us safe.
Open doors.
Make ways for us out of no way.
God,
We love you.
We bless you.
Bless our companies.
Bless our negotiations.
Bless our bargaining tables.
Give us oneness of mind.
Give us unity for our agenda and let us have good success.
We thank you that we can come to you boldly,
That we can cry out to you,
That we can pray and we can say,
God,
Have mercy.
Thank you for being a God that is approachable.
Thank you for being an understanding God,
A loving God,
A merciful God.
Thank you for loving us,
God.
We bless you.
We praise you.
We worship you in spirit and in truth.
Thank you for opportunities.
They may not be seen right now,
But thank you for opening opportunities for us,
For making ways out of no way.
Bless us now.
Lead us.
Guide us.
In Jesus name,
Amen and Amen.
