WordLive - Year OneSample

Prepare: If it’s dark, turn off the light for a moment. Or close your eyes and experience the darkness. Now light a candle or turn on the light and reflect on God’s power.

Why me?
What was it like going from darkness to light? In the dark we can become aware of what’s around us. Unexpected things may come as a shock and we may feel vulnerable and scared. It’s easy to think, ‘Why me?’ That must have been what David thought sometimes – yet he clearly found that faith works, especially in emergencies.

The great thing about the Psalms is that they describe almost every aspect of normal life – including emergencies and the times when we feel isolated and that God is far away (v 9).
David describes God as his light and salvation (v 1). He sees problems as inevitable (vs 2,5).

Putting God first
Read the psalm again and notice all the positive statements David makes as he seeks to put God first, come what may. As he puts circumstances into perspective (vs 4–6), notice what happens. He stops praying for his own safety and starts asking for God’s blessing on a much bigger scale.

God is here in hard times. He also wants us to look much bigger and to bless us and relate to us on a much bigger scale.

Respond: Pray: As you pray for places where you or others feel stuck or unsafe today, pray too that God will bless you and them on a much bigger scale.

http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-07-29