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.


In Your Hand--Apr. 23, 2011


God of steadfast love, our times are in your hand;
deliver us from all that separates us from you.

Have pity on us and let your face shine upon us;
Set our minds on your Spirit, that we may have life and peace.

Keep the example of Jesus before us, for he was tested
far beyond the manner in which we have been tested.

You suffer with us and sympathize with our weaknesses.
We are in your hand; that is our only safety, and all we need.


Lectionary Readings
Ps. 43; 149; 31; 143
Job 19:21-27a
Heb. 4:1-16
Rom. 8:1-11

Selected Verses
Ps. 31:15-16
My times are in your hand;
      deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
      save me in your steadfast love.

Job 19:21
Have pity on me, have pity on me,
      O you my friends,
      for the hand of God has touched me!

Heb. 4:15
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.

Rom. 8:6
To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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