Psalm 124
September 29, 2024 Father, this morning as we summon ourselves to come before you,
we come knowing we have not sought you continuously this week,
that our affections and personal interests have taken us away from your presence,
and that we have not been attentive to your thoughts and ways.
But you are here, by our side, in this moment, extending your hand in our direction,
and giving us the full attention of your heart. Because that is your nature.
We did not always occupy this privileged courtesy …
Like Jesus, meeting the woman at the well in John 4, she was not seeking you. You came to her and initiated the conversation.
We have confidence in you because you sent your son Jesus to our world teaching us and freely
giving of himself to bring us into eternal fellowship with you.
And the salvation he offers us is the sharing of his communion with you, his father.
The news shows us the evils our world and tragedies all around us,
Murders in our own cities, wars abroad,
fights and bickering in our own communities and families.
And in our work, we often face those who are more interested in themselves than in you.
Yet we live on, another week has passed,
and by your grace we continue breathing one breath after another.
We don’t know all the calamities that have passed us by this week.
We are oblivious to the generosities that has come from your right hand.
Open our eyes that we might see the wonderous things out of your law.
As we sojourn here, hide not your word from us.
Open our eyes that we might see your wonderous provision in our lives,
through other in this fellowship and from those around us in our community.
Let your hand continue to sustain us.
Let your hand uphold our global partners that work in places often much more challenging than our own.
Give them strength and courage and ingenuity and peace as they go about their work this week.
You are the one that made the heaven and the earth. And by your good pleasure you maintain the
universe and take pleasure in it.
Let us praise you and find delight in your presence.
And all God’s people say Amen.