Hearing God’s Voice from His Word
James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
Take a moment and turn your attention to God. Tell God that you desire to trust and obey Him. Ask God to speak to you from His word.
Psalm of the Day
Psalm 28
1 To you, Lord, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.
3 Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil,
who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts.
4 Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work;
repay them for what their hands have done and bring back on them what they deserve.
5 Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord and what his hands have done,
he will tear them down and never build them up again.
6 Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.
8 The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
9 Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.
David is the writer of this Psalm. He asks God to hear him and then He praises God for hearing Him. David states that God is His strength, but God is also the strength of His people. Many Psalms are personal, but they all have a communal nature because they were written to be sung and prayed by God’s people. Praise God that He hears your cry. Praise Him that He can strengthen you. Praise Him that He shepherds His people.
SCRIPTURE READING:
1 Peter 4:12 – New Living Translation
12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Having God’s Ear through Prayer
- Express thanksgiving to God.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal sin to you.
- Confess your sin to Him and receive forgiveness.
(1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sin He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins.”) - Bring your personal requests to God.
(Psalm 62:8 “Pour out your heart before God”) - Pray for someone in your small group.
- Join with others from River and pray for those who do not know God. Ask God to help you see the lost people around you and have compassion for them. Ask God for opportunities to build trust. Ask God to give you opportunity to have gospel conversations.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
Another theme we find in Scripture is God using suffering to draw people to faith in him. In the Old Testament, God used slavery in Egypt, attacks from enemy armies, and personal troubles to draw people to faith in him. In the New Testament Stephen’s death had a great impact on Paul and was surely part of his turning to Christ. Many saw the faith of God’s people in the face of suffering, and this validated the gospel to them. Most of us know people who came to Christ through personal suffering. Perhaps it is true for you personally. The theme that is hardest for many to accept is called mystery. We simply do not know all the “why’s” of suffering in the world. As we read Job’s story, we have insight into some of what God is doing, but from Job’s vantage point he really has no idea. There are many mysteries that we will not in this life, or possibly ever, be able to understand. If someone says “trust me,” will you? It depends, doesn’t it? If we don’t know them, we won’t trust them. If we know them and know them to be unreliable, we won’t trust them. If we know them to be exceptionally wise and good, then we will probably trust them. What do you personally know about God? When he says to you, “trust me” and gives no further answer, will you simply trust him?