WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.560 Good morning, church. It's good to see you this morning. Our sermon text is Psalm 13. 00:00:07.400 --> 00:00:08.500 Psalm 13. 00:00:11.359 --> 00:00:12.980 Let me read this text for us. 00:00:15.140 --> 00:00:17.820 To the choir master, a psalm of David. 00:00:18.940 --> 00:00:23.059 How long, O Lord, will you forget me forever? 00:00:24.240 --> 00:00:26.500 How long will you hide your face from me? 00:00:26.500 --> 00:00:32.539 How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all day? 00:00:33.399 --> 00:00:36.039 How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? 00:00:37.600 --> 00:00:39.820 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God. 00:00:40.399 --> 00:00:43.060 Light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death. 00:00:44.159 --> 00:00:46.560 Lest my enemy say I have prevailed over him. 00:00:47.179 --> 00:00:49.219 Lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. 00:00:51.299 --> 00:00:53.640 But I have trusted in your steadfast love. 00:00:53.640 --> 00:00:57.219 My heart shall rejoice in your salvation. 00:00:57.980 --> 00:01:02.920 I will sing to the Lord because he has dealt bountifully with me. 00:01:03.740 --> 00:01:04.819 Let's pray together. 00:01:08.340 --> 00:01:12.540 Our Father in heaven, we have heard your word. 00:01:13.420 --> 00:01:16.019 Now we pray that you would let us receive your word. 00:01:16.019 --> 00:01:24.340 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of all of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, Lord Jesus. 00:01:25.079 --> 00:01:26.420 Our rock and our redeemer. 00:01:27.239 --> 00:01:30.239 In your name we pray, by the power of your Holy Spirit. 00:01:30.920 --> 00:01:31.179 Amen. 00:01:31.180 --> 00:01:31.320 Amen. 00:01:34.140 --> 00:01:41.000 Well, when you're fed up, how do you pray? 00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:44.960 When you're frustrated and angry, how do you pray? 00:01:45.820 --> 00:01:52.840 When you're feeling alone and forgotten or when sorrow and shame seems never ending, how do you pray? 00:01:52.840 --> 00:01:58.760 Seriously, why don't we take a second right now and think just for a moment in our hearts. 00:01:58.880 --> 00:02:04.439 What has prayer life been like for us in those kinds of life experiences? 00:02:08.460 --> 00:02:12.240 For many of us, it's hard to pray when we reach the end of our rope. 00:02:13.460 --> 00:02:17.259 You know, when trouble first comes, that often kind of ignites a desire to pray. 00:02:17.460 --> 00:02:19.879 We pray fervently in the beginning when troubles come. 00:02:19.879 --> 00:02:26.680 But what about when the circumstances don't change after a week or after a month or even after a year? 00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:33.960 Like when your place of work remains as toxic and dysfunctional as ever. 00:02:34.819 --> 00:02:38.680 Or when your married life seems as hard and challenging as ever. 00:02:39.539 --> 00:02:43.680 Or when being single seems as lonely and pointless as ever. 00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:50.599 Or when your battle with besetting sin in your life seems as defeating and hopeless as ever. 00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:53.340 When the problems grind on. 00:02:53.580 --> 00:02:55.180 When nothing seems to change. 00:02:55.280 --> 00:02:57.340 How do you then pray? 00:02:58.960 --> 00:03:00.240 How do you walk with God? 00:03:00.300 --> 00:03:02.379 How do you commune with God even then? 00:03:02.379 --> 00:03:32.359 How do you pray? 00:03:32.379 --> 00:03:34.740 How do you pray in those kinds of circumstances? 00:03:35.620 --> 00:03:38.859 Now the first stanza, verses 1 and 2. 00:03:39.259 --> 00:03:44.299 These verses give us what I'll call the permission to vent. 00:03:44.560 --> 00:03:45.859 The permission to vent. 00:03:46.579 --> 00:03:49.319 Let me read those two verses again for us. 00:03:49.659 --> 00:03:52.659 But let me read them in a paraphrase by Eugene Peterson. 00:03:52.659 --> 00:03:55.500 Long enough, God. 00:03:55.900 --> 00:03:57.919 You've ignored me long enough. 00:03:58.759 --> 00:04:01.639 I've looked at the back of your head long enough. 00:04:02.579 --> 00:04:04.900 Long enough I've carried this ton of trouble. 00:04:05.219 --> 00:04:07.199 Lived with a stomach full of pain. 00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:11.900 Long enough my arrogant enemies have looked down their noses at me. 00:04:11.900 --> 00:04:16.860 That's a prayer of frustration. 00:04:17.340 --> 00:04:18.240 Of fatigue. 00:04:18.680 --> 00:04:21.040 Of being fed up at the lack of change. 00:04:22.280 --> 00:04:26.319 Now this is one example of many in the Psalms of what we call prayers of lament. 00:04:26.319 --> 00:04:31.519 But laments aren't only prayers of sadness. 00:04:31.800 --> 00:04:33.620 Though they often are that. 00:04:34.159 --> 00:04:36.199 They're also prayers of deep discouragement. 00:04:36.599 --> 00:04:37.259 Of frustration. 00:04:37.779 --> 00:04:38.680 Of despair. 00:04:41.259 --> 00:04:44.659 And sometimes we need the permission to pray like that. 00:04:44.860 --> 00:04:51.779 You know, we can think that holy people only pray holy prayers using holy words with completely holy motivations. 00:04:51.779 --> 00:04:52.179 Right? 00:04:52.779 --> 00:04:53.599 Well, let's be honest. 00:04:53.799 --> 00:04:57.000 There was only one human being who ever fit that bill. 00:04:57.199 --> 00:04:58.419 The Lord Jesus Christ. 00:04:58.479 --> 00:04:59.159 The God man. 00:04:59.299 --> 00:05:01.279 And he gave us the Psalms to pray. 00:05:01.359 --> 00:05:04.319 Because he knows that we aren't always perfectly holy people. 00:05:05.339 --> 00:05:08.139 And besides that, when Jesus was hanging on the cross. 00:05:08.559 --> 00:05:10.739 He prayed a prayer of lament. 00:05:12.319 --> 00:05:14.559 When Jesus was at the tomb of his friend Lazarus. 00:05:14.659 --> 00:05:16.419 He sighed a deep sigh. 00:05:16.599 --> 00:05:18.139 Not just of sadness in that moment. 00:05:18.159 --> 00:05:18.879 But of anger. 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:23.439 And we know from Romans 8 that the Holy Spirit who seals us for the day of redemption. 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:25.199 As we heard read earlier in the service. 00:05:25.519 --> 00:05:30.120 The Holy Spirit also groans within us as we experience life in our broken world. 00:05:31.420 --> 00:05:33.079 You know, while the world is still broken. 00:05:33.219 --> 00:05:35.259 While we still battle our sinful nature. 00:05:35.540 --> 00:05:39.139 While we still experience conflict and suffering and even death. 00:05:39.219 --> 00:05:42.480 There will always be a place for prayers of lament. 00:05:42.480 --> 00:05:48.520 And you know, if we don't pray prayers of lament. 00:05:48.600 --> 00:05:51.439 If we aren't willing to take our emotions to God. 00:05:51.700 --> 00:05:53.840 And say things like, how long, oh Lord? 00:05:53.939 --> 00:05:54.800 We've had enough. 00:05:56.100 --> 00:05:57.800 You know, if we don't pray prayers like that. 00:05:57.879 --> 00:06:00.460 Then inevitably, without a doubt. 00:06:00.600 --> 00:06:03.140 We will fall into some kind of idolatry. 00:06:04.520 --> 00:06:07.160 A prayer life without prayers of lament. 00:06:07.160 --> 00:06:11.040 Will inevitably lead to a life riddled with idolatry. 00:06:11.580 --> 00:06:12.980 Now here's what I mean by that. 00:06:14.480 --> 00:06:15.360 As a Christian. 00:06:16.040 --> 00:06:17.840 I hope this doesn't come as a news flash. 00:06:18.980 --> 00:06:20.640 You live in a fallen world. 00:06:21.180 --> 00:06:23.240 And you will live in a fallen world. 00:06:23.960 --> 00:06:26.000 Until you die and go to be with the Lord. 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:29.400 Or until the Lord Jesus returns to judge all evil and make all things new. 00:06:29.399 --> 00:06:37.979 And in this fallen world, you and I will experience frustration and pain and unanswered prayer. 00:06:40.859 --> 00:06:43.519 And there will be times when you will get to the end of your rope. 00:06:43.899 --> 00:06:48.479 And there will be times when you feel maybe as the Apostle Paul felt in 2 Corinthians when he writes, 00:06:48.479 --> 00:06:55.019 We were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 00:06:55.019 --> 00:07:00.819 Those times will come for us believers in this fallen world. 00:07:01.359 --> 00:07:09.599 And in that moment, if you don't go to God with a prayer of lament, you will go to something else to fill the gap. 00:07:10.779 --> 00:07:12.359 You'll bury yourself in work. 00:07:12.359 --> 00:07:16.799 Or we'll just kind of zone out with entertainment and media and distraction. 00:07:17.120 --> 00:07:21.979 Or we'll use food or drink or exercise or meditation or whatever to numb the pain. 00:07:21.980 --> 00:07:29.280 Or, you know, you could even sort of develop the kind of self-confidence, the sort of stiff upper lip that says, 00:07:29.620 --> 00:07:30.080 You know what? 00:07:30.200 --> 00:07:33.680 I'm not going to let anything bother me anymore because I'm not weak. 00:07:36.360 --> 00:07:45.140 In other words, what will happen in that moment is that you will go to some other substitute Savior to make things better. 00:07:46.160 --> 00:07:48.140 And that's the very definition of idolatry. 00:07:48.139 --> 00:07:52.120 It doesn't have to be a carved statue of a fake God. 00:07:52.279 --> 00:07:55.659 An idol is anything that takes the place of the true God in your life. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:08:02.759 Any substitute that you lean on to be okay, that you lean on to rescue you deep down in your soul. 00:08:04.459 --> 00:08:11.639 So if you're not willing to go to God and lament, if you don't have the permission to vent to God, 00:08:11.639 --> 00:08:17.680 you will inevitably fall into some kind of substitute God, some kind of idolatry. 00:08:17.819 --> 00:08:22.860 And that, friends, will bring us not to a place of freedom, but to a place of slavery. 00:08:24.659 --> 00:08:29.279 Because every idol in our life promises freedom, but makes us a slave. 00:08:30.060 --> 00:08:34.720 If we lean on work, we will have to work harder and harder and harder to be okay. 00:08:34.840 --> 00:08:40.879 If we lean on entertainment and distraction, we'll have to keep on distracting and entertaining ourselves more and more and more to be okay. 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:45.340 If we develop that stiff upper lip, which we're pretty good at at New Englanders, right? 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:47.000 We like the stiff upper lip. 00:08:47.700 --> 00:08:52.059 But if that's our way out, we only will have to grow. 00:08:52.120 --> 00:08:55.340 We will have to grow harder and harder and harder to be okay. 00:08:57.000 --> 00:09:04.279 All of these substitute saviors will promise us freedom, but only ask for more and more and more and make us a slave. 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:07.399 So what I'm saying is this. 00:09:08.279 --> 00:09:15.419 Learning to pray with the permission to vent is utterly essential to the spiritual life. 00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:21.519 Did you know that there are over 40 psalms of lament in the Psalter? 00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:25.620 Now, there's only 150 psalms in the whole Psalter. 00:09:25.860 --> 00:09:28.459 That's like almost one-third of all the psalms. 00:09:28.559 --> 00:09:32.159 One-third are prayers of lament in one way or another. 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:38.839 Another, clearly God wants this to be an important part of our walk with Him, an essential part of our walk with Him. 00:09:40.879 --> 00:09:41.779 Almost one-third. 00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:45.179 Some of you were doing the math thinking, wait, wouldn't 50 be one-third? 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:46.339 Almost one-third. 00:09:47.799 --> 00:09:51.699 So like David and like many other psalmists, we need to be willing to say, 00:09:51.980 --> 00:09:55.379 when we're feeling like we've had enough, when we're feeling like we're being forgotten, 00:09:55.480 --> 00:09:56.799 when we feel like nothing's changing, 00:09:56.799 --> 00:10:01.479 we need to be willing to say, how long, O Lord, will you forget me forever? 00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:07.379 And you see, what we're doing when we pray like that 00:10:07.379 --> 00:10:13.159 is we're actually inviting God into those emotions. 00:10:15.199 --> 00:10:20.699 We're not sort of rejecting or blaming God and then wallowing in the emotions. 00:10:20.700 --> 00:10:25.720 And we're not rejecting or stuffing the emotions and then sort of pretending with God. 00:10:26.500 --> 00:10:27.240 No, no, no. 00:10:27.360 --> 00:10:28.640 We're neither ignoring God. 00:10:28.800 --> 00:10:30.120 We're not ignoring the emotions. 00:10:30.280 --> 00:10:34.259 We're inviting God into the emotions when we pray these prayers of lament. 00:10:35.160 --> 00:10:39.500 You know, we're praying something like, you know, you know what this feels like, God? 00:10:39.520 --> 00:10:40.820 It feels like you've forgotten me. 00:10:40.860 --> 00:10:45.460 It feels like the only counsel I've got are my own thoughts spinning around in my head 00:10:45.460 --> 00:10:46.980 and I can't get off the hamster wheel. 00:10:46.980 --> 00:10:49.200 It feels like my enemies keep on winning. 00:10:49.340 --> 00:10:50.860 God, how long is this going to be? 00:10:51.300 --> 00:10:52.840 You need to come in here. 00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:54.759 You need to be present with me. 00:10:55.060 --> 00:10:58.899 You've got to be present, not just in my mind, not just in my circumstances, 00:10:59.220 --> 00:11:01.399 but you need to be present in how I'm feeling too. 00:11:01.480 --> 00:11:03.600 You need to come into that place as well. 00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:11.139 And for some of us, that's kind of new spiritual terrain. 00:11:14.139 --> 00:11:15.620 But you know, here's the good news. 00:11:16.980 --> 00:11:22.860 When God the Son became incarnate and took on our human nature, 00:11:23.379 --> 00:11:25.420 he didn't just take up our human body. 00:11:26.500 --> 00:11:29.180 He didn't just take up our human mind and intellect. 00:11:29.320 --> 00:11:33.100 He didn't just take up our human will, our volition, what we do. 00:11:33.399 --> 00:11:35.879 He took up our human emotions too. 00:11:37.860 --> 00:11:40.139 You see, God's not afraid of your feelings. 00:11:40.620 --> 00:11:42.980 He wants to come into those feelings, 00:11:42.980 --> 00:11:49.600 and he wants to come into those feelings so much that he took on a full human nature in the incarnation to do so. 00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:56.800 So yes, brothers and sisters, we have permission to go to God with our emotional life. 00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:58.920 Permission to vent to God. 00:12:01.379 --> 00:12:03.139 But the psalm doesn't stop there. 00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:04.519 It doesn't stop there. 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:07.340 When we've reached the end of our rope, 00:12:07.480 --> 00:12:11.500 Psalm 13 also shows us not just the permission to vent, 00:12:11.500 --> 00:12:15.899 but also a petition to bring, a petition to bring, something to ask for. 00:12:16.820 --> 00:12:18.580 Let me read verses 3 and 4 again. 00:12:19.779 --> 00:12:20.220 David writes, 00:12:20.220 --> 00:12:37.580 Now, you know, if we're not careful, 00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:38.560 if we're not careful, 00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:43.800 prayers of lament can sometimes sort of bleed into two unhelpful directions. 00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:45.620 And just as handholds, 00:12:45.620 --> 00:12:49.560 I'll call one direction stoicism and one direction emotionalism. 00:12:49.559 --> 00:12:50.359 Now, what do I mean by that? 00:12:51.179 --> 00:12:53.619 Stoicism is sort of just simply resigning to our fate 00:12:53.619 --> 00:12:56.959 and trying to be as balanced and unflappable as we can in spite of it. 00:12:57.159 --> 00:12:59.319 So we pour out our hearts to God and lament, 00:12:59.659 --> 00:13:01.119 but then we just sort of stop there. 00:13:01.359 --> 00:13:02.500 We realize nothing's changing. 00:13:02.799 --> 00:13:04.819 We become stoic, and we let come will come. 00:13:04.899 --> 00:13:07.019 And you know, sometimes if we're really not careful, 00:13:07.119 --> 00:13:12.579 we can sort of let theological platitudes sort of resign us in that place of just letting, 00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:14.519 you know, letting come what come. 00:13:14.519 --> 00:13:18.519 But on the opposite end of the stream, if we're not careful, 00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:20.879 is sort of emotionalism, which is the opposite. 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:24.759 We just ride the roller coaster of our emotions up and down and round and round. 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:27.899 And eventually what we end up doing is not talking to God, 00:13:27.960 --> 00:13:31.620 but we end up just kind of talking to ourselves about ourselves on and on and on and on. 00:13:35.139 --> 00:13:40.439 So how do we help from going in either unhelpful direction when we pray our prayers of lament? 00:13:40.440 --> 00:13:44.320 Well, this is what the middle of Psalm 13 is all about. 00:13:44.600 --> 00:13:47.780 We bring our petitions to God. 00:13:47.900 --> 00:13:51.240 We ask God to bring about change. 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:56.920 And the main petition here in Psalm 13 is, 00:13:57.900 --> 00:13:59.580 light up my eyes. 00:14:00.200 --> 00:14:02.000 Light up my eyes. 00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:07.500 You see, prolonged sorrow and anxiety have made David's eyes heavy. 00:14:07.680 --> 00:14:08.820 He wants to sleep. 00:14:08.820 --> 00:14:10.200 He wants to give up. 00:14:12.660 --> 00:14:20.300 But he knows that such proverbial sleep will only mean death for him and victory for his enemies. 00:14:20.379 --> 00:14:21.000 That's why he says, 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:24.720 lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemies say I've prevailed over him. 00:14:24.760 --> 00:14:26.680 So he prays, light up my eyes, God. 00:14:29.560 --> 00:14:30.740 Now, what does that prayer mean? 00:14:31.660 --> 00:14:34.780 I think there are many ways we could pray this prayer, light up my eyes. 00:14:34.779 --> 00:14:39.699 I think we can pray, light up my eyes physically. 00:14:40.220 --> 00:14:44.519 You know, prolonged turmoil, prolonged stress wears us out physically, doesn't it? 00:14:44.659 --> 00:14:48.179 We grow physically weary and fatigued and we need strength. 00:14:48.419 --> 00:14:49.179 We need renewal. 00:14:49.879 --> 00:14:52.399 So we can pray, light up my eyes physically. 00:14:52.519 --> 00:14:53.379 Give me the strength. 00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:55.699 Give me the stamina to just go on. 00:14:55.700 --> 00:15:00.500 We can also pray, light up my eyes emotionally, right? 00:15:00.620 --> 00:15:05.440 We can ask for relief from anxiety, from despair, from anger. 00:15:06.180 --> 00:15:09.780 We can ask God for the clouds to part, for the joy to return. 00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:12.820 We can pray, light up my eyes emotionally, God. 00:15:12.820 --> 00:15:21.140 But perhaps most importantly of all, we can pray, light up my eyes spiritually. 00:15:23.220 --> 00:15:30.280 What we need most of all is a renewed vision of God. 00:15:32.340 --> 00:15:36.700 David has even begun to experience this when he prays, 00:15:37.040 --> 00:15:40.900 consider and answer me, oh Lord, my God. 00:15:40.899 --> 00:15:45.340 God, God's already begun to light his eyes. 00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:55.600 After all, David's praying to the Lord, the transcendent I am who I am. 00:15:56.399 --> 00:16:02.699 The Lord who created galaxies into being just by speaking a word. 00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:09.679 The Lord who brings nations to their knees like he did when he brought Egypt to its knees 00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:12.059 to redeem his people out of slavery. 00:16:13.059 --> 00:16:16.939 The Lord, Yahweh, the creator of all. 00:16:17.299 --> 00:16:20.519 The untouchable and infinitely holy one, the Lord. 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:24.639 And yet David says, the Lord is my God. 00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:30.819 You see, the transcendent holy Lord also comes near 00:16:30.819 --> 00:16:34.000 and gives himself to be known by his people. 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:38.360 Do you see how unprecedented that is? 00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:43.179 The infinitely holy one stoops to be known by us finite creatures. 00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:47.460 The timeless one comes down and lets himself to be known in time. 00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:51.679 The all wise one reveals himself to the simple like you and me. 00:16:51.940 --> 00:16:55.059 The all powerful one reveals himself to the weak. 00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:59.139 The Lord lets himself be known and lets himself be called our God. 00:16:59.139 --> 00:17:05.319 And when our sorrows are tumbling over our head and wave after wave just keeps pushing us down, 00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:08.319 when we want to close our eyes and just sink, we pray, 00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:11.079 light up my eyes, O Lord my God. 00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:13.420 Give me a glimpse of you. 00:17:13.420 --> 00:17:20.779 Like Peter stepping out of the boat and walking to Jesus. 00:17:20.860 --> 00:17:22.800 Do you remember that episode from the Gospel of Matthew? 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:28.860 Like Peter, when our eyes get pulled away from the Lord, 00:17:29.120 --> 00:17:31.380 when the waves grow large, 00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:35.560 our Savior seems small and far away in that moment we sink. 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:39.980 And so we pray, light up my eyes, Lord. 00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:41.759 Light up my eyes. 00:17:41.880 --> 00:17:42.620 Let me see you. 00:17:43.420 --> 00:17:50.259 And that prayer leads to our third point here in Psalm 13. 00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:55.620 Verses 5 and 6 lead us from permission to petition. 00:17:56.180 --> 00:17:59.820 Now it gives us a perspective when we see God. 00:17:59.880 --> 00:18:02.519 A perspective that leads to trust. 00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:07.500 Verses 5 and 6 give us the perspective we need to be able to trust. 00:18:07.580 --> 00:18:09.340 Let me read verses 5 and 6 again for us. 00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:10.620 David says, 00:18:10.619 --> 00:18:13.579 But I have trusted in your steadfast love. 00:18:14.179 --> 00:18:16.479 My heart shall rejoice in your salvation. 00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:20.679 I will sing to the Lord because he has dealt bountifully with me. 00:18:22.819 --> 00:18:25.839 So what is the perspective that allows David to trust, 00:18:26.179 --> 00:18:27.519 even when his troubles grind on? 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:28.519 What is it that he sees? 00:18:28.599 --> 00:18:32.279 What is the perspective from which he can put things in their proper place? 00:18:32.279 --> 00:18:40.119 It's what David calls here and what the Bible calls God's steadfast love. 00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:45.339 I will trust in your steadfast love. 00:18:45.339 --> 00:18:50.399 You remember when Peter was walking to Jesus on the water and he began to sink, 00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:56.139 when the waves seemed bigger and stronger in his mind than the creator of the wind and the waves. 00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:58.240 What happened in that moment when he was sinking? 00:18:59.399 --> 00:19:00.319 Peter cried out, 00:19:00.399 --> 00:19:01.240 Lord, save me! 00:19:01.939 --> 00:19:03.000 And what did Jesus do? 00:19:03.679 --> 00:19:05.039 He reached out his hand, 00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:06.459 took hold of Peter, 00:19:06.579 --> 00:19:07.199 pulled him up, 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:08.359 and said to him lovingly, 00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:09.240 why did you doubt? 00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:12.979 You see, friends, 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:16.839 the steadfast love of God is not like our love. 00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:18.899 You know, 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:23.099 we love things because they're lovely and because they're useful to us. 00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:25.339 And our love kind of comes and goes, 00:19:25.619 --> 00:19:26.279 doesn't it? 00:19:26.879 --> 00:19:27.899 But God's love, 00:19:28.379 --> 00:19:28.919 in Hebrew, 00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:30.899 his hesed love, 00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:32.939 is a love that doesn't come and go 00:19:32.939 --> 00:19:36.779 based on how lovely or how useful the object happens to be. 00:19:36.779 --> 00:19:38.420 No, 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:40.259 God's steadfast love 00:19:40.259 --> 00:19:47.240 is the love that he has pledged and promised and sealed to give us. 00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:47.759 Why? 00:19:48.879 --> 00:19:50.019 Because he's God. 00:19:50.440 --> 00:19:51.039 That's why. 00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:54.819 And there's no turning back. 00:19:55.960 --> 00:19:56.200 I mean, 00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:56.720 think about it. 00:19:57.139 --> 00:19:58.740 There is nothing 00:19:58.740 --> 00:20:01.259 the all-knowing God 00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:03.819 could ever discover about you or me 00:20:03.819 --> 00:20:05.759 that would make him change his mind. 00:20:06.779 --> 00:20:08.859 He already knows everything about you. 00:20:09.379 --> 00:20:09.660 Past, 00:20:09.859 --> 00:20:10.099 present, 00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:10.799 and future. 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:12.339 He knows every choice you will make, 00:20:12.579 --> 00:20:13.559 every sin you will sin, 00:20:13.819 --> 00:20:14.920 every mistake you will make, 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:16.160 every triumph you will have. 00:20:16.339 --> 00:20:17.559 He knows all of it. 00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:20.220 There's nothing he's going to discover about you 00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:21.799 that he doesn't already know. 00:20:21.879 --> 00:20:22.639 And he loves you. 00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:23.599 Done. 00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:28.419 You know, 00:20:28.459 --> 00:20:29.559 the Lord Jesus didn't look 00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:30.740 at the sinking Peter 00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:31.639 and say, 00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:33.859 well, 00:20:33.939 --> 00:20:34.179 Peter, 00:20:34.379 --> 00:20:35.500 you had your chance. 00:20:36.099 --> 00:20:36.419 Sorry, 00:20:36.500 --> 00:20:36.679 man, 00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:37.879 there's 11 more in the boat. 00:20:37.939 --> 00:20:38.959 We're going to see how those do. 00:20:40.899 --> 00:20:42.419 I'm going to go find another disciple. 00:20:42.599 --> 00:20:42.819 Sorry. 00:20:44.279 --> 00:20:44.699 No, 00:20:44.899 --> 00:20:45.919 he reaches down 00:20:45.919 --> 00:20:47.279 and he lifts him out. 00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:50.339 But here's the amazing thing, 00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:50.680 friends. 00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:53.700 The Lord Jesus would reach down 00:20:53.700 --> 00:20:55.220 even deeper than that, 00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:55.920 wouldn't he, 00:20:56.259 --> 00:20:57.359 to draw us out. 00:20:58.180 --> 00:20:59.779 He wouldn't just stand 00:20:59.779 --> 00:21:01.119 in the midst of the wind 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:01.740 and the waves 00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:02.639 and pull us out. 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:06.440 The steadfast love of God 00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:07.879 doesn't just overcome 00:21:07.879 --> 00:21:11.160 the gap between creator and creature. 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:12.779 The steadfast love of God 00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:14.759 overcomes the infinite gap 00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:16.059 between his holiness 00:21:16.059 --> 00:21:17.240 and our sinfulness. 00:21:19.799 --> 00:21:20.319 You see, 00:21:20.359 --> 00:21:21.140 when David spoke 00:21:21.140 --> 00:21:22.900 of the steadfast love of God, 00:21:23.180 --> 00:21:23.319 you know, 00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:24.819 he could look back on his life 00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:26.259 at many times 00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:27.539 when God had rescued him 00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:28.240 from his enemies 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:28.960 and David knew 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:29.980 he didn't deserve it. 00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:31.519 He knew he was just a kid 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:32.200 from the field 00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:32.960 and was a sinner 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:33.879 and he didn't deserve 00:21:33.879 --> 00:21:35.299 any of God's favor to him. 00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:37.980 But David only saw 00:21:37.980 --> 00:21:39.480 in shadows in that moment 00:21:39.480 --> 00:21:41.019 the greatness of the love of God 00:21:41.019 --> 00:21:41.579 for us 00:21:41.579 --> 00:21:42.519 and for his people. 00:21:42.900 --> 00:21:44.519 Because when the fullness of time 00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:45.299 had come, 00:21:46.059 --> 00:21:47.980 God sent forth his son. 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:50.440 Not just to walk among us 00:21:50.440 --> 00:21:51.180 so that we could see 00:21:51.180 --> 00:21:51.879 what God is like, 00:21:52.119 --> 00:21:53.519 but to die for us 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:56.019 so that we could be reconciled to God. 00:21:57.940 --> 00:21:58.440 You know, 00:21:58.519 --> 00:21:59.299 our sins 00:21:59.299 --> 00:22:00.139 and our flaws 00:22:00.139 --> 00:22:01.240 and our moral failures, 00:22:01.400 --> 00:22:02.299 they're not just little 00:22:02.299 --> 00:22:04.460 nicks on our record 00:22:04.460 --> 00:22:05.139 that someday 00:22:05.139 --> 00:22:06.180 might get weighed out. 00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:06.740 No, friends, 00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:08.259 our sins against the Holy God 00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:09.059 deserve death. 00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:10.440 We deserve to sink 00:22:10.440 --> 00:22:11.180 under the waves 00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:11.980 of God's justice. 00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:13.819 But Jesus went down 00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:15.339 into the waves for us 00:22:15.339 --> 00:22:16.599 and on the cross 00:22:16.599 --> 00:22:17.839 bore the wrath 00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:19.019 our sins deserved. 00:22:21.099 --> 00:22:22.400 And in the resurrection, 00:22:22.900 --> 00:22:24.160 he came back up again, 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:25.579 defeating sin and death 00:22:25.579 --> 00:22:26.380 once and for all. 00:22:27.940 --> 00:22:28.500 Now, 00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:30.440 when Jesus takes hold of us 00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:32.099 in his steadfast love, 00:22:32.900 --> 00:22:34.579 we have nothing to fear. 00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:38.360 Think back 00:22:38.360 --> 00:22:39.319 through the first couple verses 00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:40.259 of Psalm 13. 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:42.519 You know, 00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:43.460 sometimes it feels 00:22:43.460 --> 00:22:45.319 like God has forgotten us. 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:48.240 But from the perspective 00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:49.679 of God's steadfast love, 00:22:50.339 --> 00:22:51.299 we know that God 00:22:51.299 --> 00:22:52.559 could never forget us. 00:22:53.159 --> 00:22:54.059 If the Father 00:22:54.059 --> 00:22:55.599 gave his only son 00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:56.359 for us, 00:22:56.679 --> 00:22:58.539 how could he ever forget you? 00:22:59.919 --> 00:23:00.799 Think of something 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:02.439 that's most precious to you. 00:23:03.419 --> 00:23:04.500 Maybe you have a son 00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:05.220 or a daughter. 00:23:05.700 --> 00:23:06.319 Could you imagine 00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:08.200 giving that thing away 00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:10.120 in order to gain 00:23:10.120 --> 00:23:10.519 something else? 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:11.319 Would you ever forget 00:23:11.319 --> 00:23:11.980 that moment? 00:23:12.920 --> 00:23:13.880 You would never forget. 00:23:15.140 --> 00:23:16.000 God the Father 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:17.600 will never forget you. 00:23:18.120 --> 00:23:19.039 He's given his son 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:19.420 for you. 00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:20.340 How could he forget? 00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:21.819 And it might feel like 00:23:21.819 --> 00:23:22.559 there are times 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:23.559 when God hides 00:23:23.559 --> 00:23:24.660 his face from us, 00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:25.700 when his favor 00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:26.940 seems so far away. 00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:31.240 But remember at the cross 00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:32.580 when the sky went dark 00:23:32.580 --> 00:23:33.880 and the Son of God died. 00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:35.380 We sing, 00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:36.360 the Father turned 00:23:36.360 --> 00:23:37.220 his face away. 00:23:37.340 --> 00:23:38.019 In that moment, 00:23:38.100 --> 00:23:39.000 the Father did turn 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:39.580 his face away. 00:23:39.700 --> 00:23:39.980 Why? 00:23:40.299 --> 00:23:41.000 So that his face 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:41.779 would never be turned 00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:42.480 away from you. 00:23:44.580 --> 00:23:45.680 The face has already 00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:46.779 turned against our sins 00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:47.420 at the cross. 00:23:47.480 --> 00:23:47.820 So now, 00:23:47.900 --> 00:23:48.680 though you be a sinner, 00:23:48.840 --> 00:23:49.019 friends, 00:23:49.059 --> 00:23:49.660 though I be a sinner, 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:50.700 God's face will always 00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:51.360 shine on us. 00:23:51.820 --> 00:23:52.580 He'll never turn 00:23:52.580 --> 00:23:53.259 his face away. 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:54.480 And though it might seem 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:55.240 like our enemies 00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:56.660 are constantly exalted 00:23:56.660 --> 00:23:57.140 over us, 00:23:57.319 --> 00:23:58.059 though it might seem 00:23:58.059 --> 00:23:59.259 like sin and death 00:23:59.259 --> 00:24:00.500 have the upper hand, 00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:03.759 we know that ultimately 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:04.500 our enemies 00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.640 are fighting 00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:06.980 a losing battle. 00:24:08.120 --> 00:24:09.359 It's 100 to 0 00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:10.480 in the fourth quarter 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:11.460 and there's only 00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:12.640 a couple seconds left 00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:13.599 and we're on 00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:14.240 the winning team. 00:24:14.940 --> 00:24:15.779 And they're still 00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:16.319 going to fight 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:16.880 and they're still 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:17.519 going to try, 00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:19.220 but it's a losing fight. 00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:20.079 Why? 00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:21.900 Because the risen 00:24:21.900 --> 00:24:22.799 Lord Jesus 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:24.120 has conquered sin 00:24:24.120 --> 00:24:24.539 and death, 00:24:24.539 --> 00:24:25.319 is seated 00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:26.159 at the right hand 00:24:26.159 --> 00:24:26.680 of the Father 00:24:26.680 --> 00:24:28.059 interceding for us 00:24:28.059 --> 00:24:29.460 and he is seated 00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:30.680 and will reign 00:24:30.680 --> 00:24:31.779 until all things 00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:32.700 are put under his feet. 00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:35.759 How much more 00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:37.000 can we say with David, 00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:38.619 the Lord has dealt 00:24:38.619 --> 00:24:40.619 bountifully with me? 00:24:41.659 --> 00:24:42.859 Even in the midst 00:24:42.859 --> 00:24:45.359 of prolonged sorrow, 00:24:46.159 --> 00:24:47.420 in Christ, 00:24:47.539 --> 00:24:48.539 we are still 00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:50.319 heirs of God, 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:52.680 co-heirs with Christ, 00:24:52.680 --> 00:24:54.740 awaiting the day 00:24:54.740 --> 00:24:55.700 when our faith 00:24:55.700 --> 00:24:56.519 will become sight. 00:24:56.700 --> 00:24:57.580 We will receive 00:24:57.580 --> 00:24:58.680 our full adoption 00:24:58.680 --> 00:25:00.180 at the resurrection 00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:01.320 and the creation 00:25:01.320 --> 00:25:02.060 along with us 00:25:02.060 --> 00:25:02.720 will be released 00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:03.539 from its bondage 00:25:03.539 --> 00:25:04.039 to decay. 00:25:04.420 --> 00:25:05.360 We will see God's face 00:25:05.360 --> 00:25:05.960 and we will reign 00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:06.620 with him forever. 00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:10.100 That's why Paul 00:25:10.100 --> 00:25:11.340 can say in Ephesians 1, 00:25:11.960 --> 00:25:13.519 blessed be the God 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:14.019 and Father 00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:15.740 of our Lord Jesus Christ 00:25:15.740 --> 00:25:17.140 who has blessed us 00:25:17.140 --> 00:25:18.240 in Christ 00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:20.120 with every 00:25:20.120 --> 00:25:21.960 spiritual blessing. 00:25:23.620 --> 00:25:24.660 He's saying that 00:25:24.660 --> 00:25:25.859 right now. 00:25:27.059 --> 00:25:28.160 Not just some 00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:29.200 spiritual blessings, 00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:30.500 not just a couple 00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:31.480 depending on how well 00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:32.160 your week went. 00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:34.140 No, in Christ, 00:25:34.380 --> 00:25:35.400 the Father has blessed us 00:25:35.400 --> 00:25:36.079 with every 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:37.640 spiritual blessing 00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:38.559 he has dealt 00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:39.480 bountifully 00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:40.759 with us. 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:43.599 You know, 00:25:43.640 --> 00:25:43.980 when we're 00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:45.200 in the valley, 00:25:45.380 --> 00:25:46.279 when we're amidst 00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:46.859 the waves, 00:25:46.859 --> 00:25:48.379 I think it can feel 00:25:48.379 --> 00:25:49.059 really hard 00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:50.219 to pray 00:25:50.219 --> 00:25:51.839 verses 5 and 6, 00:25:52.139 --> 00:25:52.339 right? 00:25:53.099 --> 00:25:53.619 I've trusted 00:25:53.619 --> 00:25:54.699 in your steadfast love. 00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:56.359 You know, 00:25:56.419 --> 00:25:57.059 when we're really 00:25:57.059 --> 00:25:57.819 down and out, 00:25:57.959 --> 00:25:59.000 it can feel like 00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:00.139 that's a prayer 00:26:00.139 --> 00:26:01.699 for the super spiritual, 00:26:01.879 --> 00:26:02.039 right? 00:26:02.119 --> 00:26:03.919 The super spiritually mature. 00:26:04.139 --> 00:26:04.659 I could never 00:26:04.659 --> 00:26:05.579 sort of lift myself 00:26:05.579 --> 00:26:06.199 and pray a prayer 00:26:06.199 --> 00:26:06.839 like that. 00:26:08.179 --> 00:26:09.019 But don't you see, 00:26:09.139 --> 00:26:09.319 friends, 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:11.599 that's why 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:12.719 we have 00:26:12.719 --> 00:26:13.699 this psalm. 00:26:14.779 --> 00:26:15.799 The words 00:26:15.799 --> 00:26:16.619 are here 00:26:16.619 --> 00:26:17.439 for us, 00:26:17.979 --> 00:26:19.039 for weak sinners 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:19.919 like you and me. 00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:21.959 God gave us 00:26:21.959 --> 00:26:23.359 these psalms 00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:24.399 so we don't 00:26:24.399 --> 00:26:25.299 have to be 00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:26.279 spiritual superheroes. 00:26:27.339 --> 00:26:28.459 We can pray 00:26:28.459 --> 00:26:29.279 the words 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:30.119 of this psalm 00:26:30.119 --> 00:26:31.379 as our own. 00:26:31.579 --> 00:26:32.359 We can lean 00:26:32.359 --> 00:26:33.099 on these words 00:26:33.099 --> 00:26:33.899 when our words 00:26:33.899 --> 00:26:34.399 fall short. 00:26:34.599 --> 00:26:35.379 We can take up 00:26:35.379 --> 00:26:36.059 this perspective, 00:26:36.159 --> 00:26:36.659 this perspective 00:26:36.659 --> 00:26:37.719 of trusting God's 00:26:37.719 --> 00:26:38.419 steadfast love. 00:26:38.659 --> 00:26:39.519 And we can even 00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:40.139 let these words 00:26:40.139 --> 00:26:40.679 find us 00:26:40.679 --> 00:26:41.219 when we can't 00:26:41.219 --> 00:26:41.839 find the words. 00:26:43.859 --> 00:26:44.159 You see, 00:26:44.160 --> 00:26:45.400 even the pages 00:26:45.400 --> 00:26:46.320 of scripture 00:26:46.320 --> 00:26:47.400 are God's grace 00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:48.019 to us 00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:49.700 saying, 00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:50.120 let me 00:26:50.120 --> 00:26:51.580 pick you up 00:26:51.580 --> 00:26:52.560 and carry you 00:26:52.560 --> 00:26:52.840 through 00:26:52.840 --> 00:26:53.440 and even 00:26:53.440 --> 00:26:54.259 give you the words 00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:55.019 that you can pray 00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:56.600 when your prayers 00:26:56.600 --> 00:26:57.180 fall short. 00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:01.340 God's inviting us 00:27:01.340 --> 00:27:02.600 into this perspective 00:27:02.600 --> 00:27:03.100 of trust. 00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:03.680 He wants you 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.600 to come into that 00:27:04.600 --> 00:27:05.180 so deeply 00:27:05.180 --> 00:27:06.060 that He's literally 00:27:06.060 --> 00:27:07.500 given you the words. 00:27:09.140 --> 00:27:10.140 Even in the midst 00:27:10.140 --> 00:27:10.700 of lament, 00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:11.500 even in the midst 00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:12.080 of petition, 00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:12.840 He's inviting us 00:27:12.839 --> 00:27:13.379 to trust. 00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:17.259 So brothers and sisters, 00:27:17.339 --> 00:27:18.039 when we're fed up, 00:27:18.639 --> 00:27:19.599 when we're frustrated, 00:27:20.179 --> 00:27:21.459 when we're feeling alone, 00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:23.639 this is how we can pray. 00:27:25.159 --> 00:27:26.699 And God will lead us 00:27:26.699 --> 00:27:27.199 into a place 00:27:27.199 --> 00:27:27.819 of permission 00:27:27.819 --> 00:27:29.639 and petition 00:27:29.639 --> 00:27:31.419 and finally 00:27:31.419 --> 00:27:33.119 perspective and trust 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:34.639 in His steadfast love. 00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:36.539 And that will give us 00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:36.939 the strength 00:27:36.939 --> 00:27:37.879 we need to persevere 00:27:37.879 --> 00:27:40.000 until our King 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:40.599 comes again. 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:41.259 Amen? 00:27:41.919 --> 00:27:42.419 Let's pray. 00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:43.399 Amen. 00:27:47.899 --> 00:27:48.579 Lord Jesus, 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:49.599 thank You for the Psalms. 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:51.500 Thank You for giving 00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:52.839 the medicines 00:27:52.839 --> 00:27:54.019 our weary 00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:55.379 and weak souls need 00:27:55.379 --> 00:27:57.099 when we are weak 00:27:57.099 --> 00:27:58.299 and when we are buffeted 00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:59.019 by the winds 00:27:59.019 --> 00:27:59.480 and the waves 00:27:59.480 --> 00:28:00.480 when we are feeling alone. 00:28:02.699 --> 00:28:03.139 Lord, 00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:04.139 remind us this week 00:28:04.139 --> 00:28:05.879 of Your comforting presence. 00:28:06.539 --> 00:28:07.199 Help us to pray 00:28:07.199 --> 00:28:07.839 this week 00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:08.679 and be attentive 00:28:08.679 --> 00:28:09.299 to Your Spirit 00:28:09.299 --> 00:28:09.699 this week 00:28:09.699 --> 00:28:10.459 as we encounter 00:28:10.459 --> 00:28:11.359 all the situations 00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:11.979 of our life. 00:28:12.099 --> 00:28:12.259 God, 00:28:12.399 --> 00:28:13.399 help us not to forget 00:28:13.399 --> 00:28:14.579 that Your providential hand 00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:15.579 is always at work 00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:17.339 and help us 00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:18.379 to develop the rhythm 00:28:18.379 --> 00:28:19.359 of going to You 00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:19.919 in prayer 00:28:19.919 --> 00:28:22.000 in every moment 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:22.639 of every day. 00:28:23.719 --> 00:28:25.019 Pray this in Jesus' name. 00:28:25.879 --> 00:28:26.079 Amen. 00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:26.179 Amen. 00:28:26.179 --> 00:28:26.240 Amen. 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:26.579 Amen. 00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:27.240 Amen. 00:28:27.240 --> 00:28:28.179 Amen. 00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:28.299 Amen. 00:28:28.299 --> 00:28:29.279 Amen. 00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:30.240 Amen. 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:30.279 Amen. 00:28:30.279 --> 00:28:30.319 Amen. 00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:31.339 Amen. 00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:32.399 Amen. 00:28:32.399 --> 00:28:33.240 Amen. 00:28:33.240 --> 00:28:34.240 Amen. 00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:35.240 Amen. 00:28:35.240 --> 00:28:36.299 Amen. 00:28:36.299 --> 00:28:38.279 Amen. 00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:38.339 Amen. 00:28:38.339 --> 00:28:38.359 Amen. 00:28:38.359 --> 00:28:38.459 Amen. 00:28:38.459 --> 00:28:39.059 Amen. 00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:40.139 Amen. 00:28:40.139 --> 00:28:40.359 Amen.