PrayerBits for Friday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Friday

Scripture Lesson: Psalm 31:9-16 A depressed Psalmist

Time to reflect: We all go through periods of time when we feel like this. Some of us go through long periods of time like this. One of the great things about the Psalms is that they were true expressions of real people. We can relate to them if we accept them as our words to God and not God's words to us. It is alright to complain and be sad when addressing God.

Moving Throughout the day: Pray the the deep things on your heart: earnestly and honestly, even if you feel somehow it is not appropriate to talk to God about such things.

9 Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress;
       my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
       my soul and my body with grief.

 10 My life is consumed by anguish
       and my years by groaning;
       my strength fails because of my affliction, [a]
       and my bones grow weak.

 11 Because of all my enemies,
       I am the utter contempt of my neighbors;
       I am a dread to my friends—
       those who see me on the street flee from me.

 12 I am forgotten by them as though I were dead;
       I have become like broken pottery.

 13 For I hear the slander of many;
       there is terror on every side;
       they conspire against me
       and plot to take my life.

 14 But I trust in you, O LORD;
       I say, "You are my God."

 15 My times are in your hands;
       deliver me from my enemies
       and from those who pursue me.

 16 Let your face shine on your servant;
       save me in your unfailing love.