Psalm 16
August 14, 2022
Heavenly Father,
We declare, as did the Psalmist, that we put our trust in you, we take refuge in you through the “many dangers, toils, and snares” that come our way; for you are all we need. Help us not to confuse the safety David appeals to in this song with the dreams of a conflict-free life, but to know that refuge in you in whatever life brings is all the safety we need.
We band together this morning to confess that you are our Lord and Master. We acknowledge no other god than you, O Lord, the God of the Bible. May we not chase after the gods of this world who reside in garish niches on our computers and on our televisions. May we not be distracted by the barrage of advertising and worldly philosophies that suggests we can be our own best master. May we remind each other that our hope and security is not in politics or insurance or the retirement nest egg, or our employment, but in you alone.
May we as a congregation be known a godly people; people who look humbly to you in every circumstance of life; people who acknowledge that every good thing comes from your hand; that apart from you we have no good thing. Consequently, may we be generous with our comfort and encouragement along with our worldly goods so that there would be no need in the body of Christ at Centennial Church.
Father, day and night may we listen to your voice and keep our eyes only on you. May your Word instruct our hearts so that your counsel will be ever-present, even a 4 a.m. when the burdens and terrors of life assail us. You are the defender of your people and in you our lives are secure. You place a boundary around us, and within that boundary we have everything we need for sustenance and pleasure. With the help of your Holy Spirit we will keep within the boundary lines. May we not seek what looks like greener pastures outside of your will and counsel, knowing that you have placed these boundaries in love and for our good.
Father, in your love and care we rejoice. You make known to us the path of life and even at the end of our lives we know that you will not abandon us, for just like the Psalmist, we look forward to eternal pleasures in your presence when the incorruptible Holy One will lead us to the place he has prepared. With confidence and joy may we sing daily: “Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.”
Through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray.
And all the people said,
Amen