His purpose for me

Psalm 138:1-8, ESV
(God will fulfill his purpose)

I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart;
   before the gods I sing your praise;

I bow down toward your holy temple
   and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
   your name and your word.

On the day I called, you answered me;
   my strength of soul you increased.

All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD,
   for they have heard the words of your mouth,
and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD,
   for great is the glory of the LORD.

For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly,
   but the haughty he knows from afar.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
   you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
   and your right hand delivers me.

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
   your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
   Do not forsake the work of your hands.

How much more

Matthew 7:7-11, ESV

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

This is the primary reading for Lent, Week Three. If you have comments, reflections, or insights from your work, either inspired by the meditations in the guide or on your own, please share them in the comments for this post.

Again, you can stay with this reading for the full week, or move on to one or more of the supplemental selections we will be posting.

link: The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Instructions for those who mourn

James 4:7-10, ESV

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Child, arise

Luke 8:49-56, ESV

While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more." But Jesus on hearing this answered him, "Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well." And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, "Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, "Child, arise." And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

For I will not contend forever

Isaiah 57:15-19, ESV

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
"I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
For I will not contend forever,
nor will I always be angry;
for the spirit would grow faint before me,
and the breath of life that I made.
Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry,
I struck him; I hid my face and was angry,
but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart.
I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,
creating the fruit of the lips.
Peace, peace, to the far and to the near," says the LORD,
"and I will heal him.

Send Out Your Light and Your Truth

Asking God for Light and Truth in the Midst of Mourning

Psalm 43, ESV

Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
against an ungodly people,
from the deceitful and unjust man
deliver me!
For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
why have you rejected me?
Why do I go about mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?

Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling!
Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.

Healing Life's Wounds

How God Rescued David from the Pit.

This is the primary reading for Lent, Week Two. If you have comments, reflections, or insights from your work, either inspired by the meditations in the guide or on your own, please share them in the comments for this post.

Again, you can stay with this reading for the full week, or move on to one or more of the supplemental selections we will be posting.

Psalm 30, ESV

Joy Comes with the Morning.

I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up
   and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
O LORD my God, I cried to you for help,
   and you have healed me.
O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
   you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints,
   and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger is but for a moment,
   and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
   but joy comes with the morning.

As for me, I said in my prosperity,
   “I shall never be moved.”
By your favor, O LORD,
   you made my mountain stand strong;
you hid your face;
   I was dismayed.

To you, O LORD, I cry,
   and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
“What profit is there in my death,
   if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
   Will it tell of your faithfulness?
Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me!
   O LORD, be my helper!”

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
   you have loosed my sackcloth
   and clothed me with gladness,
that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
   O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

link: The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.