I am in trouble. Who is my advocate?

We beg of You, teach us Your statutes. Help us, today, to know that the initiative to learn is ours. The truths, Your statutes, lie before us. Give us understanding, peel back the uncertainty and reveal Yourself afresh, we pray in Jesus name, amen.

How might I seek You? As one gasping for air…

If in a moment of gasping for Your air, Your mercy lies ahead of us, would it not be when the end seems near, when fear has taken hold of us? Do we need to wait Father for dire circumstances before we seek the refreshment of Your Holy Spirit? No, Father, it is frequently in times of despair that we turn our eyes to You. If we only look to You when we are in trouble, what pitiful Christians we would be.

We want evil punished now, right now!

Father, sometimes we want You to raise Your hand against the enemy of Your people, now, right now! We know You will, but we see evil conquering good, too often. Give us patience as You allow or cause events to happen on Your timetable.

People may reject you…does God?

Father, give us courage when we feel that our witness is not well received. Give us understanding in the face of rejection, when it occurs. In the eyes of many, we are insignificant. If it were not for Your approval we would feel out of step, not always fitting in.

Does it take courage to cry out to God?

Father, we see that the Psalmist cries out to You, with his whole heart. When God, have we felt such anguish, such concern? Jesus Himself talks about the times he “rose up early” to talk to You, to cry out for the needs of Your people. Here the Psalmist does the same and is sometimes awake through the entire night, meditating on Your word.

Even when we think we are cut off from You, You hear us.

Father, No one has shown us the marvelous kindness that You have shown us. None of us feel worthy of Your concern for us. Even when we cry out in despair, doubting Your love for us because of our circumstances, You ignore our immature attitude and You bring us back to You, stronger.

My heart stands in awe of Your word…Really it does!

Father, it is so hard, especially for busy parents, to take time to be alone with You, but when we do, we rejoice in the Light You shed upon us. Father, help us as parents to find a way to open the Scriptures with our children, frequently. Help them grow up seeing our commitment to You.