Morning Prayer Friday, 19 March 2021

Welcome and Good Morning to you all wherever or whenever in the world you may be.
Just four more weeks to go in this phase of pandemic lockdown –
just a few more sleeps until we can begin to emerge from behind the barricades.

Some words for today from Psalm 18:

I love you, Lord my Strength.

The Lord is my lofty crag, my fortress, my champion,
my God, my rock in whom I find shelter,
my shield and sure defender, my strong tower.

I shall call to the Lord to whom all praise is due;
then I shall be made safe from my enemies.

Psalm 18: 1–3

We thank you Lord for your all-enfolding love that will see us through to a new kind of daily life,
our first baby steps into sociability renewed.
Help us to live as your protected people today and always.

Amen

He reached down from on high and took me,
he drew me out of mighty waters,
he delivered me from my enemies, strong as they were,
from my foes when they grew too powerful for me.
In my hour of peril,
the Lord is my buttress.
He brought me into rampant liberty,
he rescued me because he delighted in me.

Psalm 18: 16–19

O Lord, our rescuer, haul us out of this pandemic-sponsored depression.
Keep our eyes and actions fixed on the April gateway
so we may contribute to the healing of our community.
Bless people suffering mental distress with relief from despair.
Comfort the sick with our prayers and your care.
Open the hearts of the reckless and careless to embrace your strength.

Amen

The psalm writer is persistent in praise of God who sustains and guards us all:

What God is there but the Lord?
What rock but our God?
It is God who girds me with strength
and makes my way free from blame.

You have given me the shield of your salvation;
your right hand sustains me;
you stoop down to make me great.

Psalm 18: 31–32, 35

O Lord, ever constant, strengthen our faith that we may learn to depend on your care.
Strengthen our hope that we may be people whose hope overflows to the world around us.
Improve our love that we may learn to receive care from others as well as to give it.
O Lord, help us live with a smile for everyone we meet virtually or in the real world.

Amen

The poetry of this psalm in fifty verses is lovely to read, but not so easy to remember.
Perhaps a tuneful trustworthy reminder of less worrisome times (an ear worm for today!)
will see us through to evening:

He’s my rock, my sword, my shield. He’s the wheel in the middle of the wheel.
He’s my lily of the valley and a bright morning star.
Makes no difference what you say, I’m going on my knees to pray.

I’m gonna see my Lord in glory one of these days.
He’s my peace, my joy, my love, my name’s written in his book above.
He’s the captain of my company in the battle of the Lord.
Makes no difference what the devil may do. I’ve got victory, how about you?

I’m gonna see my Lord in glory one of these days.
I’m gonna see my Lord in glory one of these days
He‘s the rock of my soul and I’m gonna sing his praise.

He’s my rock, my sword, my shield. He’s the wheel in the middle of the wheel.
I’m gonna see my Lord in glory one of these days.

© 1975 Jeanne Harper

We enter the world today fully armoured by God and with an old song on replay!
Enjoy your Friday morning and have a great day!

Cheryl Montgomery