HOPE

Psalms 61:9 LXX (62:8)

Hope in Him, all you congregation of people;
Pour out your hearts before Him;
God is our helper.
(Pause)

Personal Challenge

It can be so difficult to have hope when the world around us is falling apart. That is always the case when we put our hope in the things, or people, of this world. When we put our hope in God, who is constantly consistent, then He will carry us through whatever chaos befalls us. Glory be to God!

Saint of the Week
St. John Chrysostom

HE IS…

Psalms 61:7-8 LXX (62:6-7)

For He is my God and my savior,
My protector; I shall never be moved.
In God is my salvation and my glory;
He is the God of my help, and my hope is in God.

Encouraging Words

Who is God in the eyes of His followers. He is our God and our salvation. Salvation from what? From eternal death. He is our protector, protecting us from the enemy of God, which is death. He is our glory. He is our help and our hope. Glory be to God!

PATIENT ENDURANCE

Psalms 61:6 LXX (62:5)

However, be submissive to God, O my soul,
For my patient endurance is from Him.

Personal Challenge

Life is filled with challenges and difficulties. As we endure these things God blesses us with patience. Nothing is a waste in our lives for all is for the good of those who love the Lord. This patient endurance is a critical part of our discipleship and growth in our theosis. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

SUBMISSION

Psalms 61:2-3 LXX (62:1-2)

Shall not my soul be submissive to God?
For from Him is my salvation.
For He is my God and my savior,
My protector; I shall be shaken no more.

Personal Challenge

In reality, there are two types of submission. They are coerced and voluntary. Many in the world today, especially those in political power, follow the path of coercion. They believe that when those who they are bullying and coercing are submitting willingly to them. This is never the case. Those who are coerced into submission will always look for a way to break free. In God’s economy, His followers voluntarily submit to Him because of His graciousness and mercy. It is always out of love and never followed with a desire to depart from it. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

SINGING PRAISES

Psalms 60:9 LXX (61:8)

So I will sing praise to Your name unto ages of ages,
That I may pay my vows day to day.

Personal Challenge

In the days of the Psalmists, the nation of Israel lived under the Law as presented to Moses. They were obligated to sing praises to God. When Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law and ushered in His new covenant this obligation went away. As followers of Christ we sing our praises to Him out of gratitude and joy, We do His works, not out of obligation, but out of thankfulness for how much He loves us. Glory be to God!

HEAR ME, O LORD

Psalms 60:2-5 LXX (61:1-4))

Hear my supplication, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I cried out to You
When my heart was discouraged;
You lifted me high on a rock.
You guided me, for You became my hope,
A tower of strength from the face of the enemy.
I will dwell in Your tabernacle unto the ages;
I will be covered with the shelter of Your wings.
(Pause)

Encouraging Words

When we cry out to God, we are not crying out into a vacuum. He listens and attends to our prayers. His answers are often not what we want but are always what we need. In those times of discourgement that we seek Him, He lifts us up. In those times that we feel lost, he guides us and gives us hope. In those times when we need protection, He is our tower of strength. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God have mercy on me, the sinner!

SINGING AND REJOICING

Psalms 58:17-18 LXX (59:16-17)

But I will sing of Your power,
And greatly rejoice in Your mercy in the morning;
For You are my protector,
And my refuge in the day of my affliction.
You are my helper; I will sing to You;
For You, O God, are my protector;
You are my mercy, O my God.

Encouraging Words

As we celebrate Western Christian Easter today we can raise our voices in singing and rejoicing for all that God has done for us through His Son. The Psalmist could only look forward to his coming redeemer. We can relish in the knowledge that He came and set us free from the bondage of death. We do rejoice in His mercy in the morning for He is our protector, our refuge, our helper, and our mercy. Glory be to God!

Saint of the Week

St. John of Kronstadt

HAVE MERCY ON ME

Psalms 56:2-4 LXX (57:1-3)

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me,
For my soul trusts in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will hope,
Until lawlessness shall pass away.
I will cry out to God most High;
My God who is my benefactor.
He sent from heaven and saved me;
He gave over to disgrace those who trample me down.
(Pause)
God sent out His mercy and His truth,

Personal Challenge

One of the most used prayers in the Eastern Orthodox Church is, “Lord have mercy!”. We believe that we deserve nothing from our God, especially His mercy. We also believe that God is love and in that love He pours out mercy to His children. This is why we continually petition Him for this mercy. There is so much that comes with His mercy. He will cover us with protection as a mother hen does. He is our benefactor and delivers us from our conflicts. He demonstrokes His love for us in so many ways. Glory be to God!