Prayer for today: Heavenly Father, Almighty in creation, Redeemer of our souls, as we Floridians face a mega storm today, testing our wills, our stamina, our faith, our ingenuity, our patience, our relationships with others and our submission to authority, we pray for Your mercy. Yes, You can calm the winds, and yes, You can calm our souls. May we be faithful to You, the God who controls the universe and shows us our place in it. In times of trials through storms, earthquakes, persecution, wars and rumors of war, help us remember that You told us in Your Word that these times would come. Perhaps it is time to heed the words Paul wrote to Timothy in Chapter 3 of his second letter:
“in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!”
Whatever this weekend brings, may we be faithful to You, stand in awe of Your mighty power, help those in need, and in all things give thanks for Your mercy. Amen.
PSALM 146
Praise the Lord!
Let all that I am praise the Lord,
I will praise the Lord as long as I live.
I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.
Don’t put your confidence in powerful people;
there is no help for you there.
When they breathe their last, they return to the earth,
and all their plans die with them.
But joyful are those who have the God of Israel[a] as their helper,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.
He made heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them.
He keeps every promise forever.
He gives justice to the oppressed
and food to the hungry.
The Lord frees the prisoners.
The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down.
The Lord loves the godly.
The Lord protects the foreigners among us.
He cares for the orphans and widows,
but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.
The Lord will reign forever.
He will be your God, O Jerusalem, throughout the generations.
Praise the Lord!
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