The Psalms are the prayerful songs of the Old Testament. These are always a good source of faith, comfort and praise. This morning I read through Psalm 86.
Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. (Ps 86:1)
We cry out to God because even when we think we have everything, we are spiritually bankrupt, poor and needy.
Consider also how this Wuhan Flu will disproportionately affect the poor and needy around the globe. During this crazy pandemic the poor and needy are struggling. They may not have the resources to hoard three months of food. So if you know someone who is less well off, consider ways you can help them. One way is to give food and money to the local food pantry.
Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. (Ps 86:2)
Look to the One who has the real power to guard your life. Put your faith and trust in the LORD God. More than Costco or the CDC trust in the Lord. Cry out to him. Pray to him all day long.
You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. (Ps 86:5)
Remember the character of our God. Celebrate that the one to whom we call is faithful. The Lord is forgiving, even though we go after other gods and do not give our worship (Rom 12:1). Our God who overflows with so much love that he sent his one and only Son is ready to respond to our prayers.
When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me. (Ps 86:7)
We all are in distress during this crisis. Right now I don’t have just one family “in the hospital or sick”, everyone of my families is “in the hospital”. I am calling on God for each and every family. Trusting in God whose hands are far more powerful and gracious than my weak and feeble hands.
Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. (Ps 86:11).
We are all going through a Lent like no other! We are all being called to rely upon God in new and deeper ways. Lent has been imposed on us to pray, to read scripture, to give to the needy, to worship. I hope all of us learn a new and deeper way of following God.
For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead. (Ps 86:13)
We are filled with fear and panic. Not because we are afraid of catching a cold. As we are filled with fear over this Wuhan Flu we should look to the LORD God Almighty. For not even death can separate us from the love of God through Christ Jesus (Rom 8:39). God has rescued us from death.
Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me. (Ps 86:17)
Our ultimate enemy in all of this is Satan who is always trying to steal our joy and rob us of our faith in God. Our enemy seeks to kill and destroy. But we have received a sign of God’s blessings. We have the sign of the Cross through which Jesus Christ crushed sin, death and hell underfoot! Praise God! Amen.
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” ~ Psalms 73:26
Pastor Douglas
Out of the Kiddie Pool 
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