Reading God’s Word: Lamentations 5; Psalm 43

Memorizing God’s Word: 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Meditating on God’s Word: Psalm 43:5Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Praying God’s Word: “Lord, teach us to practice the kind of self-talk modeled by the Psalmist in this Psalm. There’s no denial of the feelings of being downcast. No pretending everything is “fine.” Just the honest acknowledgement of how he really felt, and the addressing of his very own soul and the encouragement, to himself, “put your hope in God!” And then remind us when we feel downcast, when our soul feels disturbed within us, when the angst of life threatens to overwhelm us, to put our hope in you. Remind us to not trust in addictions, or diversions or substitutes or any activities or sinful behavior itself to numb the discouragement of feeling downcast. Instead remind us of Psalm 43:5: “Put your hope in God!” Amen.”