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Prepare: Reflect upon your own limitations as you approach God in prayer today. Thank him for his never-failing power and love.
Frightening frailty
Life is fragile. The psalmist sings here not only of his sorrow, sin and suffering but also of how fleeting and frail human existence is (vs 4–6).
Human frailty can be frightening. The knowledge that our lives are so short and small in the grand scheme of things is unsettling at the least. Thinking that at any time disaster, illness, sorrow or death can interrupt and change everything in a moment can paralyse us with fear.
Faithful and true
So to deal with the fear we can become preoccupied with not thinking those things; with making life comfortable and secure. We spend money and energy on ‘treasures on earth’ (Matthew 6:19), trying to forget that we are ‘but a breath’ (vs 5,11), and trying to hold on tight to everyone and everything that we love.
However, verse 7 brings the clarity and perspective of truth to our fears. God is our hope. In changing times and shifting fortunes, through uncertainty and difficulty, he alone is faithful and true. He alone is trustworthy and strong; he alone is our security and our unfailing love. Only in God can we find all that we need for whatever lies before us and for all eternity to come.
Respond: ‘But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you’ (v 7). Meditate for a moment on this verse. How could it transform the way you will pray today?
http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-10-21
Frightening frailty
Life is fragile. The psalmist sings here not only of his sorrow, sin and suffering but also of how fleeting and frail human existence is (vs 4–6).
Human frailty can be frightening. The knowledge that our lives are so short and small in the grand scheme of things is unsettling at the least. Thinking that at any time disaster, illness, sorrow or death can interrupt and change everything in a moment can paralyse us with fear.
Faithful and true
So to deal with the fear we can become preoccupied with not thinking those things; with making life comfortable and secure. We spend money and energy on ‘treasures on earth’ (Matthew 6:19), trying to forget that we are ‘but a breath’ (vs 5,11), and trying to hold on tight to everyone and everything that we love.
However, verse 7 brings the clarity and perspective of truth to our fears. God is our hope. In changing times and shifting fortunes, through uncertainty and difficulty, he alone is faithful and true. He alone is trustworthy and strong; he alone is our security and our unfailing love. Only in God can we find all that we need for whatever lies before us and for all eternity to come.
Respond: ‘But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you’ (v 7). Meditate for a moment on this verse. How could it transform the way you will pray today?
http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-10-21
Scripture
About this Plan
WordLive provides a daily slice of Bible reading and commentary that, over four years, covers most of the Bible. The commentary encourages the reader to engage with the Bible passage in order to deepen their relationship with God, through reflection and practical application. The WordLive website offers further multimedia content and group Bible study, while registration offers a daily email, journal and bookmarking, and community tools.
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