Daily Scripture‘Hear my prayer, O God; hide not yourself from my petition.And I said: ‘O that I had wings like a dove, for then would I fly away and be at rest.In the evening and morning and at noonday I will pray and make my supplication, and he shall hear my voice’. (Psalm 55:1, 7 & 19)Daily Reflection Another Psalmist comes to God in prayer; pleading with God not to hide Himself from his petition. We might say today, “Why doesn’t God answer my prayer?” The Psalmist’s solution, in his desperation, might be seen as running away from his troubles - “O that I had wings like a dove, for then I would fly away and be at rest.” But having off-loaded all his troubles on God he comes around again to knowing (to remembering) that God will hear his prayer; so he prays to God “evening, morning, and at noonday”. He doesn’t give up; he doesn’t run away. God is actually bearing him on the holy wings of His Spirit. The refrain in Psalm 55 is, “Cast your burden upon the Lord and he will sustain you.” Don’t give up: on life, or on your prayer-life.Revd David
Daily Scripture“I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our ancestors, believing everything laid down according to the law or written in the prophets. I have a hope in God—a hope that they themselves also accept—that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. Therefore I do my best always to have a clear conscience towards God and all people.” (Acts 24.14-16)Daily Reflection Having a clear conscience could not have been easy for St Paul. As a Jewish rabbi, he had seen Jesus as an enemy of his faith; so much so, that he had hunted down followers of Jesus to their death by stoning. Then he came to see that Jesus was not distorting the revelation of God but was actually the true image of God. He had got everything wrong. Now he is having to defend himself before the Roman governor Felix against Jews who are accusing him of betraying the faith. How could he have a clear conscience? – because he had seen how Jesus was The Truth, The Way and The Life, had accepted God’s forgiveness, and was committed to doing ‘his best always’. David Harmsworth
Daily Scripture:‘I cry aloud to God; I cry aloud to God and he will hear me.In the day of my trouble I have sought the Lord.’ (Psalm 77:1&2a)Daily Reflection:Often when reciting a Psalm out loud there is a line that is repeated, it is known as the refrain. For this Psalm the refrain is the line from the second verse: In the day of my trouble I have sought the Lord. As we continue through this extraordinary period in our lives it certainly seems that these could indeed be called “days of trouble”. If you are struggling through these incredible times: missing the “normal things” of your life, missing family, are anxious, concerned about your job or income, or are lonely – I encourage you to do as the Psalmist says, and seek the Lord. Cry out to Him; He will hear you. There is something healing about speaking out aloud your troubles; it is a first step……and “He will hear.”Revd David
Here is the link to last Sunday's 10 o'clock Harvest Communion service at St. George's for those unable to be there:https://youtu.be/t3ZmAovyOuQ
