In the Prayer Book of the Church of England the appointed readings for each day include various Psalms both morning and evening. In the course of each month a diligent reader would go through all 150 Psalms. For each day this week I will list the psalms appointed for that day, and encourage you to spend time simply reading them, perhaps aloud, allowing God to speak to you. My own comments will be very brief as I hope very much that the discipline of reading them thoughtfully will be most useful. Whatever else you might do, please pick up and open your own Bible – many of us find having a Bible open in front of us is more useful than clicking on a smart screen! It is often easier to focus on the words-on-the-page without all the surrounding distractions of the smartphone technology and the demands to reply to twinkling lights, flashing messages and such like.
The theme that connects the readings is that of ‘Turning Points’. Something clicks in the Psalmist’s mind, and he adopts a different outlook on the world around him, and begins to feel and appreciate the presence of God.
Morning: Psalms 30 and 31.
Evening: Psalms 32, 33, and 34
Psalm 31:14-15
But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!”
My future is in your hands.
Look at some of the earlier verses that describe the writer’s experience:
I am in distress. Tears blur my eyes. body and soul are withering away.
I am dying from grief; my years are shortened by sadness.
Sin has drained my strength; I am wasting away I am scorned Despised by my neighbours— I am ignored as if I were dead,
I have heard the many rumours about me, I am surrounded by terror.
He is in a pretty bad place isn’t he!
So here comes the turning point BUT … !
He turns his eyes away from the darkness of the moment to declare
My future is in your hands.
Whatever circumstances might confront you today let this one single phrase be the focal point for you. Everything, every ray of light, every stab of darkness, every weakness of body, every pressure from family or work, yes, everything comes down to this:
My future is in your hands.
Thank you Lord!
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