Brad Rito ’15, Serving with Young Adult Volunteers, New Orleans, La.

Scripture

Psalm 143

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord;
 give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness;
 answer me in your righteousness.
2 Do not enter into judgment with your servant,
 for no one living is righteous before you.

3 For the enemy has pursued me,
 crushing my life to the ground,
 making me sit in darkness like those long dead.
4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;
 my heart within me is appalled.

5 I remember the days of old,
 I think about all your deeds,
 I meditate on the works of your hands.
6 I stretch out my hands to you;
 my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.

7 Answer me quickly, O Lord;
 my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me,
 or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
8 Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning,
 for in you I put my trust.
Teach me the way I should go,
 for to you I lift up my soul.

9 Save me, O Lord, from my enemies;
 I have fled to you for refuge.
10 Teach me to do your will,
 for you are my God.
Let your good spirit lead me
 on a level path.

11 For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life.
 In your righteousness bring me out of trouble.
12 In your steadfast love cut off my enemies,
 and destroy all my adversaries,
 for I am your servant.

Devotional

“I don’t want to bother God with something so menial.” This is a thought many of us have had when we hit a rough patch on the path God has set before us. We wonder whether or not asking God for help is appropriate, whether or not God would even answer our cries.

But it is in these moments that one must remember that Jesus, the greatest person ever to live, the Son of the Most High, cried out from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” In much the same way, we all experience trouble, hardship, feelings of loneliness or abandonment—however you want to put it. If Jesus cried out in such times, why do we question the power such cries can have in our lives? We are humans, perfectly and wonderfully made in God’s image, but imperfect by nature. If we were perfect, we wouldn’t face these adversities. We as God’s children must therefore always remember that our loving Father is ever-present in our lives, by our sides, walking the path with us, and knows our pains and our need for God in our lives. We are never forsaken, and nothing is inappropriate to lift up to God.

Prayer

Almighty God, we thank you for your ceaseless presence at our side and for your unwavering love as expressed through your Son, Jesus Christ. We must admit though, Lord, that we are not always the quickest to turn to you in our times of need. We think some things are too menial or insignificant for someone as great as you to deal with. Help us never to question your power or your involvement in even the most minute affairs of this world. You hear our prayers, and you most graciously answer them, more than we could ever earn on our own. We thank you and pray all of this in your name, Father, through your Son, Jesus Christ, and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Brad Rito ’15, Serving with Young Adult Volunteers, New Orleans, La.

Scripture

Psalm 143

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord;
 give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness;
 answer me in your righteousness.
2 Do not enter into judgment with your servant,
 for no one living is righteous before you.

3 For the enemy has pursued me,
 crushing my life to the ground,
 making me sit in darkness like those long dead.
4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;
 my heart within me is appalled.

5 I remember the days of old,
 I think about all your deeds,
 I meditate on the works of your hands.
6 I stretch out my hands to you;
 my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.

7 Answer me quickly, O Lord;
 my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me,
 or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
8 Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning,
 for in you I put my trust.
Teach me the way I should go,
 for to you I lift up my soul.

9 Save me, O Lord, from my enemies;
 I have fled to you for refuge.
10 Teach me to do your will,
 for you are my God.
Let your good spirit lead me
 on a level path.

11 For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life.
 In your righteousness bring me out of trouble.
12 In your steadfast love cut off my enemies,
 and destroy all my adversaries,
 for I am your servant.

Devotional

“I don’t want to bother God with something so menial.” This is a thought many of us have had when we hit a rough patch on the path God has set before us. We wonder whether or not asking God for help is appropriate, whether or not God would even answer our cries.

But it is in these moments that one must remember that Jesus, the greatest person ever to live, the Son of the Most High, cried out from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” In much the same way, we all experience trouble, hardship, feelings of loneliness or abandonment—however you want to put it. If Jesus cried out in such times, why do we question the power such cries can have in our lives? We are humans, perfectly and wonderfully made in God’s image, but imperfect by nature. If we were perfect, we wouldn’t face these adversities. We as God’s children must therefore always remember that our loving Father is ever-present in our lives, by our sides, walking the path with us, and knows our pains and our need for God in our lives. We are never forsaken, and nothing is inappropriate to lift up to God.

Prayer

Almighty God, we thank you for your ceaseless presence at our side and for your unwavering love as expressed through your Son, Jesus Christ. We must admit though, Lord, that we are not always the quickest to turn to you in our times of need. We think some things are too menial or insignificant for someone as great as you to deal with. Help us never to question your power or your involvement in even the most minute affairs of this world. You hear our prayers, and you most graciously answer them, more than we could ever earn on our own. We thank you and pray all of this in your name, Father, through your Son, Jesus Christ, and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.