Throughout this series we have joined some of our favorite biblical characters in the prayers they once prayed and which God has preserved for us in the Scriptures. As you ponder the variety of prayers from the Great Prayer Book, the Psalms, be enveloped by each word as if it was written directly to and for you…because in fact they were and are a gift from God for you. Praying the Scriptures in this way will bring health and vitality to your heart and soul, and great liberty to your life of prayer.
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Psalm 62 begins with seven words that will change your life: “Truly my soul finds rest in God.” Memorize them and breathe them as a prayer throughout your day. When work or school, family or friends, accomplishments or success, or even sadness or shame, seek to reign over your heart and pull you away from true, everlasting peace…remember that only God can offer deep and abiding rest. It’s only in God, our rock and our salvation, where we will discover our eternal hope and our reward. We so often look over our shoulder in the direction of others’ plenty, and their delight becomes our comparative want. We lean away from the gospel truth and find ourselves on the tottering fence of jealous contempt. Instead, when we keep our eyes on the living God, trusting in him at all times, and pouring out our hearts to the One who matters most, we will truly find rest for our soul.
Today…
Join the psalmist in declaring your wholehearted trust in God and desire nothing less than the unfailing love only he can provide. With honest confession, give voice to your temptation to trust in the things of this world more than the one thing that matters most: finding our truest rest in God alone. (Psalm 62)
Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
How long will you assault me?
Would all of you throw me down—
this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
Surely they intend to topple me
from my lofty place;
they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse.
Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
together they are only a breath.
Do not trust in extortion
or put vain hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
do not set your heart on them.
One thing God has spoken,
two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,
and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;
and, “You reward everyone
according to what they have done.”
Behold the splendor of the Lord – Believe the promises of his love – Belong to those who unreservedly trust him – Become prayerful in all you are and do.
