Today’s scripture: Psalm 54 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (David Zier):
When things aren’t going so well, how easy is it to feel God’s grace and protection? I once shared with my spiritual director how the migraines, the seizures, the meds, the discomfort, etc. can tend to wear me down; it can seem relentless at times!! It is not that I feel further from God, but the constant presence and occurrence of these things over time make it feel that the normal every day I use to know is no longer. To a degree, it still feels unfamiliar after many years. I want my old self back. Fatigue is not my friend. I look at my meds in the morning and I want to… (use your imagination). It can feel like I am hiding from God or God is hiding from me. It can feel like both.
I am at a place in my life where I spend lots of quiet time with God and I feel blessed even in hiding. God’s space and peace nourishes me; it feeds my soul. This is more meaningful to me than anything else I do. I think it is the rhythm of my quiet time that allows me to praise and give thanks. I am able to see God working in my life, and allow God to deliver me from the hard times and difficult spaces. That quiet time with God feels familiar, in the middle of unfamiliar things happening to me, and allows me peace. I am by no means perfect, so please do not get some image that I am some monk in prayer all day. I do the best I can. I pray that I continue to grow closer
.Thought for the Day: Where is God when you are hiding? Where are your God familiar places?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.