To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. 2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary.
3 Do not drag me off with the wicked, with the workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts. 4 Give to them according to their work and according to the evil of their deeds; give to them according to the work of their hands; render them their due reward. 5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord or the work of his hands, he will tear them down and build them up no more. 6 Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. 7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. 8 The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed. 9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever. Meditation We are invited to lift our voices to cry for mercy in the midst of our trials and troubles, in the wilderness and among the wicked. God will respond to our cry for mercy. Children cry out to their parents when they are scared, hurt, hungry, overwhelmed, or in need. To cry for mercy is to reach with a hand of faith from our hearts through our lips to the Lord, acknowledging our limitations and begging for God’s compassion, kindness, and intervention. To lift our voices in crying out for mercy is to: - Cry to the LORD for HELP (2). - Lift your HANDS in surrender, holding nothing but HOPE in HIM (2). - Turn your HEARTS to the sanctuary of the Lord (2). When surrounded by struggle the grace of God gives faith to cry to the Lord for mercy. Rains fall on the righteous and the wicked but those who cry to the Lord for mercy will not be washed away in the flood. We can dance in the storm. Those who cry out for mercy will experience God as their: - SHEILD and STRENGTH (7), - SONG of SALVATION (7), - SANCTUARY of SAFETY (8) - SOVEREIGN SHEPHERD (9). The invitation is for all the children of God- Respond to God’s grace by reaching from your heart with a voice of faith. Cry out for mercy! He will hear and respond (6). Richly Dwelling -Do you believe God will hear your cry for mercy? If so, what areas of life do you need to cry to the Lord for help? -What do you need to let go of, to lift your hands empty to the Lord, to hold only hope in Him? -Where have you experienced the Lord as He reveals Himself in verses 7-9? What does it look like for you to experience Him in these ways in your current circumstances? Key Verse 2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary…6 Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. Comments are closed.
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AuthorPastor Mitchell celebrates twenty-five years of marriage with Lisa & together they have four adventurous children. |