Use the schema explained above: Tell God about the situation, listen to God and scripture, dialogue with God as you reflect.
Step 1
Lord, you know my heart, you know when I sit and when I stand. Right now I am anxious but I really do not know why. Undifferentiated anxiety. I just don’t feel myself. You do not feel as close to me as I am accustomed. What is going on.
Politics alternatively makes me angry, concerned and worried. Values that we thought we held in common seem to be cast by the wayside. Positions that my friends espouse worry me. I just feel unsettled.
Your apostles and disciples were often a fearful lot. Sometimes for good reason, other times when their faith was tested.
I fear that I will not be myself when I’m anxious like this. I fear that I will strike out at those who worry me and do more harm than good. How can I stand up for what is right without being self-righteous, without turning off those with whom I disagree. I don’t know how to easily talk about things when our starting assumptions are so far apart. We just stake out our positions and don’t discuss not only what got us there but where we started.
Lord, put me at peace so that may listen, challenge and in turn bring peace not with a self-righteous attack but rather with determined honesty, frankness and above all respect and love.
I don’t know what is making me anxious, but I am. I ask for help.
Step 2: Listen to God in Scripture
| Who is this that comes from Edom,
in crimsoned garments, from Bozrah
Who is this, glorious in his apparel,
striding in the greatness of his strength?
“It is I, I who announce vindication,
mighty to save.”
2 Why is your apparel red,
and your garments like one who treads the wine press?
3 “The wine press I have trodden alone,
and from the peoples no one was with me.
I trod them in my anger,
and trampled them down in my wrath;
Their blood spurted on my garments,
all my apparel I stained.
4 For a day of vindication was in my heart,
my year for redeeming had come.
5 I looked about, but there was no one to help,
I was appalled that there was no one to lend support;
So my own arm brought me victory
and my own wrath lent me support.
6 I trampled down the peoples in my anger,
I made them drunk in my wrath,
and I poured out their blood upon the ground.”
Prayer for the Return of God’s Favor 7 The loving deeds of the LORD I will recall,
the glorious acts of the LORD,
Because of all the LORD has done for us,
the immense goodness to the house of Israel,
Which he has granted according to his mercy
and his many loving deeds.
8 He said: “They are indeed my people,
children who are not disloyal.”
So he became their savior
9 in their every affliction.
It was not an envoy or a messenger,
but his presence that saved them.
Because of his love and pity
the LORD redeemed them,
Lifting them up and carrying them
all the days of old.
10 But they rebelled
and grieved his holy spirit;
So he turned to become their enemy,
and warred against them.
11 Then they remembered the days of old, of Moses, his servant:
Where is the one who brought up out of the sea
the shepherd of his flock?
Where is the one who placed in their midst
his holy spirit,
12 Who guided Moses by the hand,
with his glorious arm?
Where is the one who divided the waters before them—
winning for himself an everlasting renown—
13 Who guided them through the depths,
like horses in open country?
14 As cattle going down into the valley,
they did not stumble.
The spirit of the LORD guided them.
Thus you led your people,
to make for yourself a glorious name.
15 Look down from heaven and regard us
from your holy and glorious palace!
Where is your zealous care and you might,
your surge of pity?
Your mercy hold not back!
16 For you are our father.
Were Abraham not to know us,
nor Israel to acknowledge us,
You, LORD, are our father,
our redeemer you are named from of old.
17 Why do you make us wander, LORD, from your ways,
and harden our hearts so that we do not fear you?
Return for the sake of your servants,
the tribes of your heritage.
18 Why have the wicked invaded your holy place,
why have our enemies trampled your sanctuary?
19 Too long have we been like those you do not rule,
on whom your name is not invoked.
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,
with the mountains quaking before you,
Psalm 77
2 I cry aloud to God,
I cry to God to hear me.
3 On the day of my distress I seek the Lord;
by night my hands are stretched out unceasingly;
I refuse to be consoled.
4 When I think of God, I groan;
as I meditate, my spirit grows faint.
Selah
5 You have kept me from closing my eyes in sleep;
I am troubled and cannot speak.
6 I consider the days of old;
the years long past 7 I remember.
At night I ponder in my heart;
and as I meditate, my spirit probes:
8 “Will the Lord reject us forever,
never again show favor?
9 Has God’s mercy ceased forever?
The promise to go unfulfilled for future ages?
10 Has God forgotten how to show mercy,
in anger withheld his compassion?”
Selah
11 * I conclude: “My sorrow is this,
the right hand of the Most High has abandoned us.”
II 12 *I will recall the deeds of the LORD;
yes, recall your wonders of old.
13 I will ponder all your works;
on your exploits I will meditate.
14 Your way, God, is holy;
what god is as great as our God?
15 You are the God who does wonders;
among the peoples you have revealed your might.
16 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the children of Jacob and Joseph.
Selah
17 The waters saw you, God;
the waters saw you and lashed about,
even the deeps of the sea* trembled.
18 The clouds poured down their rains;
the thunderheads rumbled;
your arrows flashed back and forth.
19 The thunder of your chariot wheels resounded;
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.
20 Through the sea was your way;
your path, through the mighty waters,
though your footsteps were unseen.
21 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron. |
The Walking on the Water.*
22 h Then he made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 i After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. 25 During the fourth watch of the night,* he came toward them, walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. 27 At once [Jesus] spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I;* do not be afraid.” 28 Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. 30 j but when he saw how [strong] the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith,* why did you doubt?” 32 After they got into the boat, the wind died down. 33 * k Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.” |
Put together what you said to God and what God said to you. Dialogue.