We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on December 4, 2014.
Prayer: As we speak our prayer to you, O God, help us to listen to what you have to say to us. Amen. Reading: Psalm 85: 1-2, 8-13 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: The Psalmist prays: Let me hear what God the Lord will speak.” When I read that I immediately recalled the congregational response to Sunday intercessions at my home church: When you speak, O God, help us to listen. As we speak in prayer, we ask that we will hear God speaking. In prayer, we speak trusting that God is listening. In prayer, we need also to expect that God answers. So, the response that Pastor Bovendam wrote for is really helpful: "As we speak our prayer to you, O God, help us to listen to what you have to say to us." Hear some of what God has to say to the Psalmist and us: For he will speak peace to his people. Surely his salvation is at hand. Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; Righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Are you glad to hear God speak those words and bestow those gifts? What other graces does God speak? Do we hear God speak those gifts? It is good that we are helped to hear and receive those gifts. Let’s use the prayer response as our mantra for today that we may hear all that God speaks. When you speak, O God, Help us to listen. --Jim Bricker
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