People keep describing the COVID-19 pandemic as unprecedented. While our times are unprecedented in one sense, you don’t have to look far back in history to see examples of people who have faced similar situations. This psalm looks at a person who dealt with the pain of isolation and it gives some warning signs to look for as well as some steps that we can take to cope with quarantine.
How do you feel thinking about or preparing for worship? Excited, exhausted, conflicted? Today we will turn to Psalm 135 and be reminded that no matter what is going on in our lives or in the world, God is always worthy to be praised!
COVID-19 has put everyone on edge. While we all work to take necessary precautions, many feel a sense of panic as well. The greatest example of this has been the mad rush to stockpile toilet paper. The Bible promises confidence in God, but many are unsure of how to lay hold of it. This message looks at a psalm of David where we learn some practical steps we can take to overcome our anxiety and find confidence in troubling times.
Many books and movies tackle the theme of coping with hardship. Usually, the take-away is that human willpower conquers all adversity. But most of us have come to learn that willpower has its limits. If we think that God might help, then we often struggle to understand how. This message looks at specific steps we can take to find hope in circumstances that feel hopeless.
Some of the prayers in Scripture sound like the bartering in a Middle Eastern market. There's a back and forth that seems deliberate and intentional. Today's message looks at one such 'prayer negotiation' between Moses and God. And it shows us that sometimes God tests us in prayer to see what we'll settle for. His hope is that we won't settle until we've seen His glory.
