Psalms for Today 9 - Psalm 71 You who answer prayer

Daily reflections in Verse, Artwork and Music by Rev’d Paul Collings

Psalm  71:5 You have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you. I have become a sign to many; you are my strong refuge. My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendour all day long.

Link to a musical reflection based upon Psalm 71

You are the hope my whole life through

From natal days ‘til now pursued.

Your lasting strength, protecting gaze 

At work in me, I can but praise 

The splendour of your perfect will

With endless joy my life you fill.

You mark my days a sacred sign

A hiding place as if a shrine

That other folk may see in me 

Your refuge sure revealed, the key

To inner peace tranquility

That makes me bow on blended knee.

Lord, when my wavering trust would fail

When faith would doubt your grace and pale

When forces bend my will, my mind

Help me once more again to find

The refuge of your loving hand

That keeps me safe and by you stand.

“Remember Whose you are and Whom you serve. Provoke yourself by recollection, and your affection for God will increase tenfold; your imagination will not be starved any longer, but will be quick and enthusiastic, and your hope will be inexpressibly bright.” -Oswald Chambers

Psalms for Today 8 - Psalm 57 “Neath Your Wing”

Psalm 57:3 He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me—God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.

To listen to today’s musical reflection click here https://chirb.it/4r71Gg

You shelter me ‘neath your strong wing, 

And keep me safe though you’re a king;

The reigning one above all things,

O worthy one my praise I bring.

Yet midst the peril of earth’s harm,

Where dangers lurk and raise alarm,

I tremble neath your sheltering arm

Where there you bring a sacred calm.

A refuge where your mercy meets

My anxious needs, dispels, deletes

That inner fear so I may greet

The soothing of my heart complete.

You send from heaven, your saving grace

Rebuking dangers I may face

And through your faithful love I trace.

Your holy arms that I embrace.

“Sometimes God calms the storm, but sometimes God lets the storm rage and calms His child.”

― Leslie Gould, The Amish Nanny

Psalms for Today 7 - Psalm 56 I know that God is with me

Psalm 56:3-4 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid.

Here is today’s musical reflection “I know that God is with me”

I put my trust in you, my Lord

When anxious fears disrupt, discord;

The inner melody of peace

You will for me, to bring release.

And when such foes, without, within

Impact my soul, would crush would win

Their battle plan, my life destroy

Come gracious Lord, your pease deploy.

Lord, may the faltering praise I bring

And from bathed heart with joy to sing

Of lasting hope, and inner calm

Speak ever of your loving balm.

You know my mind, and speak my name,

With tender words you free, acclaim

And strengthen my resolve to stand

As one who trusts your loving hand.

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."

– Corrie Ten Boom

Psalms for Today 6 - Psalm 46 Be still and know.

Psalm 46:4-5 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.

Here is a link to today’s Musical Reflection

Midst all the rush of life’s turmoil,

Chaotic tempest, storms prevail,

You say stand still, remain, uncoil

And know I am your God, inhale

The nature of the timeless truth,

That I am with you here to sooth,

To quieten heart and soul and mind

Where by my peace you rest can find.

And so you call me here to stand

Whilst saying, look around and see

At devastation’s upper hand

Those crushing acts as if decreed.

Lord, quiet now my stormy life,

Give ears to hear, help me remain

Within the noise of living strive

And know you are the Lord who reigns.

“Sometimes finding God’s quiet stillness within us is our highest and greatest aspiration.” Anonymous 

Psalms for Today 5

 

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

Link here for a musical reflection Psalm 42 by Rev'd Paul Collings

You stand by me through waking day

And whilst I sleep, you with me stay.

You ease my mind by your accord

With love songs lilt my soul restore.

Such gracious love in me applied

As through my prayer I seek your guide,  

That through my life your channelled  love

Comes here to me as gentle dove.

I too would be like thirsty deer

And seek refreshment as I near

The living waters of your grace,

And there drink freely at that place.

The place you have prepared for me

To slake my thirst that I might be

Refreshed, renewed and there to find

A refuge sure of nobler kind.

Lord plunge me ‘neath the water deep

And there to find, that though I weep,

A deeper cleansing of my soul

Where love unspeakable makes whole.

“. . . it is presumptuous in me to wish to choose my path, because I cannot tell which path is best for me. I must leave it to the Lord, Who knows me, to lead me by the path which is best for me, so that in all things His will may be done.” 

― Teresa of Ávila, Interior Castle

Faith in Time of Crisis 12

Faith in Times of Crisis 12

Artwork - “You are my Rock” by Rev’d Paul Collings

Meditation by Dr J P Hunter 

Psalm 40:1-4a, 7-8,11.

¹ I waited patiently for the Lord;
    he turned to me and heard my cry.
² He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
    out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
    and gave me a firm place to stand.
³ He put a new song in my mouth,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
    and put their trust in him.

⁴ Blessed is the one
    who trusts in the Lord, Then I said, “here I am, I have come- it is written in the scroll. I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.” 

¹¹ Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord;

 may your love and faithfulness always protect me.

Meditation

Waiting for God to help us is not easy. In this Psalm David records that he not only waited; he waited patiently. His patience, based on trust, was justified. God heard his prayer, my cry, and David received three blessings from waiting: 1. God lifted him out of despair, 2. God set his feet on a firm rock, 3. God put a new song of praise into his mouth. Often blessings cannot be received unless we go through a trial of trusting and waiting. During this trial of waiting David’s attitude changed to wanting to obey God: I desire to do your will, the tipping point in David’s journey. So it could be in ours. 

Prayer

Lord, you lifted me out of the pit of my despair. You rescued me, put my feet on a rock and changed me. All I now want to do is to keep your laws and obey your will. That I may live to show the saving power of your love. Through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen           (Jonathan Aitken, adapted.)

Hymns and Psalms 727, verse 2

Meet it is, and just, and right,

That we should be wholly thine,

In thine only will delight,

In thy blessed service join:

O that every work and word

Might proclaim how good thou art,

“Holiness unto the Lord”

Still be written on our heart!                                   

Charles Wesley (1707 – 1788).

Psalm for Today - Take Refuge - Rest in the Lord

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Psalm 37:39-40 The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

Here is the link to the musical reflection on today’s Psalm

Help me, dear Lord, in you to  rest

And in your refuge there reflect,

How by strong hand I’m truly blest

Where goodness in me you perfect.

Deliver me from pressing harm

Where troubles sap my longing soul

And ‘neath the shelter of your arm

Find your own rightness making whole.  

You call me not to fret, to still

The worried thoughts that burn my will

Endanger trust, and take from me

The vision of a life made free.

You come to me, salvation bring

And cause my heart with praise to sing

For in your holy presence find

 A saving place my life unbind.

O Saving Lord with thankful heart

I welcome pastures new, apart

From wickedness, a biding place

And bathe in your unfolding grace.

“Where does your security lie? Is God your refuge, your hiding place, your stronghold, your shepherd, your counsellor, your friend, your redeemer, your saviour, your guide? If He is, you don't need to search any further for security.” 

― Elisabeth Elliot