Thursday 26th March | Bishop Christine Hardman
Readings
Reflection
In times of trouble the Psalms speak to us with great power. The Psalmist never holds back and pours out his heart, often complaining to God, pleading with God and then ultimately entrusting everything into God’s hands. We see this especially in Psalm 86 this morning ‘Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and in misery….In the day of my distress I will call upon you, for you will answer me……great is your steadfast love towards me, for you have delivered my soul from the depths of the grave.’
In these times can I encourage you to turn to the Psalms and if you haven’t already done this, find one or two that become your personal source of strength and peace. My own particular psalm is Psalm 121 “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help……The Lord shall preserve thy going out and they coming in: from this time forth for evermore’. When the duty bishop leads prayers in the House of Lords, there is an unspoken rule that this psalm is used on the Thursday or Friday when the House rises. More poignantly, my training incumbent taught me to recite this psalm when leading the coffin up the path to the church door, saying that last line as the threshold to the church was reached.
In these times when everything is completely uncertain and we are deeply anxious may we be given the faith of the psalmist that however desperate our situation, we are held more deeply in God’s love than we can ever imagine, with a love that is stronger than death.
Prayers
Spend some time today thanking God that you are held more deeply in God’s love than you could ever imagine.
In the knowledge of God’s love, pray through the things you know you need to entrust inro God’s hands. Spend some time praying for our Government today, that they would lead us wisely at this difficult time. Pray for all of those who are working in the NHS, for protection and energy.
If you have time, why not meditate on these verses from Psalm 86 today?
9 All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.
10 For you are great and do wondrous things;
you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your steadfast love toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
Collect
Merciful Lord,
Absolve your people from their offenses,
That through your bountiful goodness
We may all be delivered from the chains of those sins
Which by our frailty we have committed;
Grant this, heavenly Father,
For Jesus Christ’s sake, our blessed Lord and Saviour,
Who is alive and reigns with you,
In the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and forever.
Amen.
