April 5, 2019
Psalm 126 The Message (MSG)
Today is the twenty-seventh day of our 40-Day Lenten Series, “Praying for a Kingdom Heart.” Lent should be a time of prayerful reflection, repentance, and restoration as we draw closer to the heart of God. God is always able to bring something good out of something difficult. As believers pray and seek the heart of God, we know we are seeking the heart of the Healer. How big is your God? God restores and heals spiritual drought, wounded emotions, infirm physical bodies, fractured relationships, etc.; anything that can be injured God desires to restore and make whole once again. Restoration flows from God’s goodness; a goodness that is evident to believers, as well as non-believers. Grace and favor is a part of every believer’s spiritual garments. When God miraculously works in restorative and healing ways, people who were previously burdened and downcast are suddenly filled with great joy and hope. It is evident that something “suddenly” changed. We sow our disappointments and look for God to use it for our good; as we yield to God’s plan for our lives he has promised to bring an abundant harvest of his goodness to the forefront of our lives. When our hearts are focused on the Kingdom, we guide others to experience the Healer during times of difficulty, too. Are you quick to pray with others and help them connect with the Healer?
In our passage today, the psalmist remembers God’s past healing work with faith and hope as he prays for God to heal Israel, again. God brought restoration in the past when he brought his people back from the exodus and exile. Biblical history demonstrates God’s desire to restore Israel time and time again. He desires to restore every one of his children. It may seem hard to understand, but God wants great things for you and you must be whole to receive them! Be healed in Jesus’ name!
During Lent, we will be using the acronym P.R.A.Y. as we pray for a Kingdom Heart. P=praise, R=repent, A=ask, and Y=yield. May God bless you as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today.
Psalm 126 A Pilgrim Song
1-3 It seemed like a dream, too good to be true,
when God returned Zion’s exiles.
We laughed, we sang,
we couldn’t believe our good fortune.
We were the talk of the nations—
“God was wonderful to them!”
God was wonderful to us;
we are one happy people.
4-6
And now, God, do it again—
bring rains to our drought-stricken lives
So those who planted their crops in despair
will shout hurrahs at the harvest,
So those who went off with heavy hearts
will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.
Prayer: Father, thank you for being so good to me. Like the Israelites, you have restored me time and time again. I want to praise you for being my Healer. I repent for being slow to ask for healing in certain areas, but I am convicted by your Spirit that I must grow bolder in my asking. So, I am sowing my emotional seeds of disappointment in the fertile ground of your Kingdom and I am asking for you to bring a harvest of great joy and laughter. Lift my heart and bring me blessings. I will yield to however you choose to bring that healing about in Jesus’ name. Amen.