psalm 88
“You cause my neighbors and friends to keep their distance; those who know me leave me alone in the darkness.”
This is the only psalm that doesn’t end on a hopeful or encouraging note. It is what it is. God’s effectiveness isn’t totally correlated to our attitude. He can work in spite of us.
Pray not to base so much on how you feel.
psalm 87
“The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.”
When Jesus raised from the dead, God’s Kingdom broke in for good. God’s favorite place is no longer Jerusalem, it is wherever he dwells; which is especially with you. Do think of where you live the same way as the psalm writer thinks of Jerusalem? Why not? Through Jesus, it is a foretaste of the New Jerusalem.
Pray for love for your city.
psalm 86
“Make me wholeheartedly committed to you.”
How can we expect deep and lasting transformation in our lives for the good unless God is the source? We can’t. Halfhearted won’t do. Neither will anything less. We may not know it because we haven’t given ourselves over to him.
Pray for God to take it all and mean it.
psalm 83
17 Let them be ashamed and terrified forever. Let them die in disgrace.
We always try to be peaceful with our emotions, but it is not as if it is totally biblical or anything. Vengeance is God’s, but we can cheer him on. Not very mature, but the only reason we could be pacifist, actually.
Pray for active peace.
5 But these oppressors know nothing;
they are so ignorant!
They wander about in darkness,
while the whole world is shaken to the core.
Everyone has an ideal view of the world. That which we value makes up our value’s system. So, when we make a value judgment about someone else, we are always speaking through a preset filter. How does a biblical worldview stack up? The poor and vulnerable are always on God’s radar.
Pray for those who are vulnerable.
12 So I let them follow their own stubborn desires,
living according to their own ideas.
God doesn’t force anyone to follow him. Yet, if you want true freedom from that which binds you, and true hope in better days ahead, you follow him. He doesn’t have to convince anyone. He gives his Holy Spirit to those who are open to receive, and then new life begins. Living a life worth living with a God worth loving.
Pray for courage of openness in someone you know who is in deep need.
Psalm 80
19 Restore us, O LORD God Almighty;
make your face shine upon us,
that we may be saved.
To have God’s face shine on us is a poetic way of saying, “Stick close to us and show us your glory, Lord!” If only God were here…. God is here.
Pray for His Presence.
Psalm 79
4 We are objects of reproach to our neighbors,
of scorn and derision to those around us.
When this psalm is created, the people of Israel are ridiculed by their neighbors. Today, many of our neighbors ridicule us again. Today, it is much less envy and competition, as it is in the days of Israel. Today, some of the scorn we receive is because some Christians act so over-the-top. It is actually helpful scorn. It reminds us we are to be a light way more than a judge.
Pray for graciousness.
