I am an emeritus professor from Cornell University and was a Commissioned Lay Preacher in the Presbyterian Church (USA). For many years I have followed the Daily Lectionary as printed in the Mission Yearbook of my church. For each day of a two-year cycle, the lectionary lists four psalms and three other scriptural passages--usually one from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament. My practice is to copy down a verse or two from one of the psalms and from each of the other three passages. After I have written out all four selections, I reflect upon them, rearrange their order, and incorporate them into a meditation. Sometimes I retain much of the original wording; sometimes all that remains of a selection is an idea that was stimulated when I read the original words. All selections are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. For the Daily Lectionary, see the link below.

Rescued by Your Hand--Jan. 31, 2022

[Adapted from my Feb. 2, 2004 journal]

 

I linger, uncertain.  Like Lot, the challenge

seems too great, and I am mired in the past.

 

I want to wallow in my failures, surrender to

despair, disregard the work you are performing.

 

But you are merciful.  You seize me by the hand

and bring me out to accept your forgiveness.

 

I will be glad and exult in you;

I will sing praise to your name;

 

I will trust that you are faithful

in doing what you have promised.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 62; 145; 73; 9 

Gen. 19:1-29

Heb. 11:1-12

John 6:27-40

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 9:2

I will be glad and exult in you;

            I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

 

Gen. 19:16

But [Lot] lingered; so the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and left him outside the city.

 

Heb. 11:11

By faith [Abraham] received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised.

 

John 6:30

So [the crowd that had come looking for Jesus] said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you?  What work are you performing?  …”


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

2 comments:

  1. Mea SententiaFebruary 6, 2022 at 12:41 PM

    This is a lovely prayer. It seems like your blog was an outgrowth (and continuation) of your journal, which predated it. I wonder if you still keep your journal.

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  2. Elmer E. EwingFebruary 6, 2022 at 9:49 PM

    Thank you. Your impression is correct--the blog is an outcome and continuation of my journal. Journal-keeping was an on and off thing for me, started in my university days, usually marking special events, experiences, or insights. In my fifties my entries were mostly favorite bible verses, random at first, then tracking the daily lectionary. In my sixties I started writing meditations like the current ones. All these were for my private devotional life until I got the idea of sharing them on a blog. I have considered returning to a regular journal--perhaps some day I will. I know it can bring blessings.

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