URC Daily Devotion 3rd October 2021

Sunday October 3, 2021
Psalm 62
 
My soul finds rest in God alone,
My Rock and my salvation;
A fortress strong against my foes,
And I will not be shaken.
Though lips may bless and hearts may curse,
And lies like arrows pierce me,
I’ll fix my heart on righteousness,
I’ll look to Him who hears me.

O praise Him, hallelujah,
My Delight and my reward;
Everlasting, never failing,
My Redeemer, my God.

Find rest, my soul, in God alone
Amid the world’s temptations;
When evil seeks to take a hold
I’ll cling to my salvation.
Though riches come and riches go,
Don’t set your heart upon them;
The fields of hope in which I sow
Are harvested in heaven.

I’ll set my gaze on God alone
And trust in Him completely;
With every day pour out my soul
And He will prove His mercy.
Though life is but a fleeting breath,
A sigh too brief to measure,
My King has crushed the curse of death
And I am His forever.

Stuart Townend & Aaron Keyes Copyright © 2007 Thankyou Music 
You can hear the song here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSp-3kvKQZs

Reflection

Watching the YouTube video of this Psalm gives a sense of calm and reflection.  The music and the images show an ideal world of beauty and serenity – blue skies; calm waters, beautiful sunsets.  In the real world, however, the sunsets become wildfires, waters remind us of flooding through climate change, and clouds build into the storms that are to come.

The ideal is to trust in God alone as the Rock of our Salvation.  The reality is there is so much going on around us it can be difficult to let go and put our faith in one who can often feel distant from us.  So often it is when our lives are so chaotic, so desperate that God seems so far away.  We can be assured, however,  that God is always present.

In the chaos of labour, my gas and air relief didn’t work because I was focussing so much on the pain so I forgot to let go and allow the gas and air to work.  Once I did, the pain eased and the labour became more bearable.  When we allow ourselves to let go of our stresses, our chaos, and our despair it is then that we will know the solid foundation that will hold us safe.  It is then that we can acknowledge the God of love who will not let us go.  And then we too can sing “O praise him, Hallelujah”.

Prayer

Lord of the storm, the wildfires, and the chaos, 
remind us of your presence that we may know you are there in our darkest times.  
Help us to let go of our troubles and stresses that we may rely on your strength.  
May we take comfort and relief in your solid foundation knowing that you will never let us fall.  Amen

 

Today’s writer

The Rev’d Ruth Watson SCM MediaCityUK Church, Salford Quays

 

Copyright

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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