Presence

Jesus, prepare me to hear your Word in a new way today. Inspire me with understanding by the power of your Spirit.

Scripture Reading

Psalm 3:1-3 NRSVue

O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying to me, “There is no help for you in God.”   Selah But you, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.

Reflection

Some days it might seem as if the world is against us. Nothing goes right. No one cooperates. Everything goes wrong. Perhaps we’ve had a teacher tell us we’re not smart enough, a parent tell us we’re not good enough, a boss tell us we’re not skilled enough. J.K. Rowling (creator of Harry Potter) was once on the verge of homelessness. Steve Jobs was fired from Apple, the company he co-founded. Bill Gates was a Harvard dropout. Albert Einstein couldn’t speak fluently until he was 9. Walt Disney was fired from a Missouri newspaper for “not being creative enough.” We may be down today, but God will lift us up if we turn to Him for guidance. Grateful in this certainty, today I will start to cooperate with God’s plan for my life. I will let him lift up my head.

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord, may I be encouraged by the stories of these people who rose to the greatest heights from the lowest places. May I not forget that it is often those who struggle and suffer the most who build character and find the strength and grace to do the greatest things. It was once said that the darkest shadow is produced by the brightest light. if there is a dark shadow in my life, I pray that I will be led to the wonderful Light that brought it forth. Give me hope for my future, Lord, against all the voices of discouragement, against all the odds.  Amen.