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A song of ascents.

1 I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven.

2 As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he shows us his mercy.

3 Have mercy on us, LORD, have mercy on us, for we have endured no end of contempt.

4 We have endured no end of ridicule from the arrogant, of contempt from the proud.

 

The Psalmist starts this prayer with a seemingly humble heart but then seems to quickly devolve to telling God that the Israelites need mercy because . . . they’ve had enough! I suppose I am not above praying in a similar manner, but my better self has a more contrite spirit. Here is a song by Elizabeth Clephane that embodies the humble and hopeful attitude that I wish to possess as I approach God’s throne of grace.

“Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand,

The shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land;

A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way,

From the burning of the noon-tide heat, and the burden of the day.

Upon that cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see

The very dying form of One who suffered there for me;

And from my stricken heart with tears two wonders I confess:

The wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness. “

When we pray, ah . . . what a difference a Savior makes! The ultimate mercy we need is already ours, delivered to us on a cross! And when we pray for relief from the oppression of the day, we can be hopeful for answers and/or hopeful for the strength we need to make it through. Furthermore, we can pray our prayers while resting in the knowledge that one day our difficulties will end and we will be at peace in heaven, all burdens removed.

Prayer for today: Dear Jesus, this is legitimately so much harder for some than others, but please help us to view our struggles in this life as light and temporary as we consider them while at the same time rejoicing that we get to spend eternity with You.

Juli Hampton

Ham10five@gmail.com

 

Prayer Concern: This is one day late, but let’s pray for our Veterans, that scars on their bodies and on their hearts would be healed.