Psalm 84:1-12
Key Verse:
8
“Lord God of heavenly forces, hear my prayer; listen closely,
Jacob’s God!” CEB
So
much of this Psalm has made it into hymn and song. Something in this particular
Psalm resonated with us on so many levels. How often have we prayed only to
feel as if we speak words that dissipate like smoke. We cry out in our hearts
and the words hit the ceiling and go no further. Even when we know God hears, there
is still something inside which cries out. God, listen closely! God is the God
of all things. God is mighty and powerful. God spoke all creation into
existence. All that is, is because of God. And that is the God to whom pray. That
is the God to whom we sing our praises, lift our petitions and to whom we cry
out. Knowing the God of unseen and heavenly forces is listening is daunting, awe-inspiring
and humbling. So we ask for God to lean
in, to listen closely, to hear our prayer. Because what a powerful thing it is
to know God is listening; to know God hears; to know God understands. Whatever
your prayer today, pray it knowing God is listening. God hears you today.
A Prayer
for Today
Lord God,
you are magnificent. You are wonderful and good. You give me hope when the
chaos is too much, when the pain and heartache threatens to over whelm. Your
love fills me. I know your forgiveness, your grace and your mercy. I am
thankful for all the ways your redemption is at work in my life and in this
world. There is so much I wish to bring to you. I lay out my heartache, my pain,
my hurt, my concerns for myself and those around me. I give it all to you. As I
pray, I cry out, hear me! Listen to me. Let me see, let me know that you are at
work in all of this. Let me know that you hear me, so that I might give praise
to you for all the ways you work your redemption in my life, in the lives of
those I love and in the world around me. -Amen
