Daily Reading: 5 February
(from www.christianaid.org.uk)
Lament.
Something to read
…when I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I am not afraid…
- Psalm 56.3-4a from full reading Psalm 56.
Something to think about
The psalms of lament are a great gift to us. When we’re living in hard times, we can read them in sympathy with our suffering. When times are good, we can use them to pray for those in need.
How are you feeling today? Are you feeling run down or afraid, undermined or attacked? Hear the confidence of the psalmist, that even under the assault of their enemies, you can trust in the unfailing faithfulness of God. God whose word cannot be broken, whose promises deliver us from death.
Christian Aid’s work in disaster relief reminds us of the fragility of life and the impact of natural disaster and conflict. We can pray through the psalms for this work, for those living in the shadow of fear from an uncertain future. The impact of these emergencies has a timescale far beyond what you see in the news, and the ongoing support of agencies in these areas is vital.
Psalms of lament usually end with a note of hope, a reminder that transformation and redemption of the most dire circumstances are possible by God’s grace. We are delivered so we can ‘walk before God in the light of life.’ (Psalm 56.13b)
Something to do
Go to the emergencies page of the Christian Aid Website. Pray for an area affected by disaster or conflict, ask yourself how God can use you to bless those affected by this crisis. Can you help to raise awareness or funds for the situation? Can you be part of the faithful response through God’s people?
Something to pray
Merciful God,
your compassion and love for us
is deeper than we can ever understand or imagine.
May that compassion and mercy comfort us and shape us,
that we may shine as beacons of hope in the world.
Use our resources and experiences to support those living in crisis.
May your kingdom bring them hope and transformation.
Amen.
Today’s contributor is Andy Stinson. A disciple, husband, dad, deacon and priest. At the time of writing, Andy is Rector of Barrow (near Chester) and Worship and Liturgy Missioner for Chester Diocese.