Written by the Rev. Melissa Goodman ’10 and brought to you by the World Mission Initiative at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Scripture
Psalm 27
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me
to devour my flesh —
my adversaries and foes —
they shall stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident.
4 One thing I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the LORD,
and to inquire in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.
6 Now my head is lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud,
be gracious to me and answer me!
8 “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
Your face, LORD, do I seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me.
Do not turn your servant away in anger,
you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
10 If my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will take me up.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they are breathing out violence.
13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the LORD!
Devotional
In the season of Lent, we are challenged to wait upon the Lord once again. We are not a people who are any good at waiting. We tap our feet incessantly when waiting in a line at the grocery store. We grumble while waiting at a red light or in the often stopped traffic of the city. And we complain like Martha, when the Mary’s of the world are sitting at the feet of Jesus while there is much work to be done. What if, during this season of Lent, we took time in the grocery store, while stopped in traffic, and in the midst of the busyness to wait upon the Lord? What if, we stopped the grumbling and offered a prayer of thanksgiving instead?
For in the waiting, we may just be offered a glimpse of Jesus Christ bursting forth from the grave once again.
Prayer
Dear Lord, help me this day, and in the days ahead to wait upon you, to be strong in the midst of trial, to take heart in the midst of frustrations, and to wait upon your eternal goodness and everlasting mercy. In the powerful name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.