Betty Whitaker Jackson

As part of my newest book, Life-Changing Waters, a Devotional Guide, this entry concerns the deserts of life, when God seems distant because we sometimes experience loneliness.

 

WE SEARCH FOR GOD’S MERCY IN

LONELINESS

My Psalm 216

Almighty Father, Provider of all good things,

We praise Your Name and worship at Your throne.

You give us all we need in this life,

And that plentifully.

You grant us food, clothing, purpose, and joy

When we live according to Your plan.

From the very beginning,

You planned that we would live together,

First, as husband and wife,

Then in families,

Now in communities and faith groups

Where we know and are known.

 

We thank You that we have each other.

We thank You for friendships, for fellowship with others,

And for the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We praise You for corporate worship

Where we join with other brothers and sisters of faith

To pray, to praise, to sing, and to listen to Your Word.

 

We thank You that Jesus chose a group of disciples

To show us how to communicate with others,

Sharing common goals.

We thank You for His loving family.

We thank You that He came to dwell among us

So that we might know You more fully.

 

We thank You for those we love in this life.

I thank You for loving parents and siblings.

I thank You for my brothers and sisters of faith.

I thank You for a huge cloud of witnesses,

Those who have grown me up in my understanding

And have loved me as one of Your own.

 

I thank You for friendships which help me know love.

I thank You for purpose, that of loving others.

I thank You for opportunities to serve You

Through loving others

And pray I may reflect Your care, concern, and wisdom.

 

I pray I too can be a fisher of men,

Bringing others to Your throne,

Serving as a daily servant of Yours in my daily life,

Telling others of Your love for the lost, the lonely,

For we are all lonely, in the true sense,

Until we find our place in Your Kingdom.

 

Help me to seek those who need to know You

Because the joy of knowing Your love is all I need

In this life and the next. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.