Praying & Praising With the Word
In the middle of the difficult we pray:
Psalm 90:17 The Passion Translation
Return to us again, O God! How much longer will it take until you show us your abundant compassion? Let the sunrise of your love end our dark night. Break through our clouded dawn again! Only you can satisfy our hearts, filling us with songs of joy to the end of our days. We've been overwhelmed with grief; come now and overwhelm us with gladness! Replace our years of trouble with decades of delight! Let us see your miracles again, and let the rising generation see the glorious wonders you're famous for. O Lord our God, let your sweet beauty rest upon us and give us favor. Come work with us, and then our works will endure and give us success in all we do!
Then we remember these words:
Matthew 7:9-11 The Passion Translation
Do you know of any parent who would give his hungry child, who asked for food, a plate of rocks instead? Or when asked for a piece of fish, what parent would offer his child a snake instead? If you, imperfect as you are, know how to lovingly take care of your children and give them what's best, how much more ready is your heavenly Father to give wonderful gifts to those who ask him?
Romans 8:27-29 The Passion Translation
God, the searcher of the heart, knows fully our longings, yet he also understands the desires of the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit passionately pleads before God for us, his holy ones, in perfect harmony with God's plan and our destiny. So, we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together to fit into God's perfect plan of bringing good into our lives, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose. For he knew all about us before we were born and he destined us from the beginning to share the likeness of his Son. This means the Son is the oldest among a vast family of brothers and sisters who will become just like him.
Psalm 91:14-16 The Passion Translation
For here is what the Lord has spoken to me: "Because you have delighted in me as my great lover, I will greatly protect you. I will set you in a high place, safe and secure before my face. I will answer your cry for help every time you pray, and you will find and feel my presence even in your time of pressure and trouble. I will be your glorious Hero and give you a feast! You will be satisfied with a full life and with all that I do for you. For you will enjoy the fullness of my salvation!"
As the promises fill us with assurance and hope, our hearts and mouths will overflow in praises to God such as these:
Psalm 92:1-5 The Passion Translation
It's so enjoyable to come before you with uncontainable praises spilling from our hearts! How we long to sing our praises over and over to you, to the matchless God, high and exalted over all! At each and every sunrise we will be thanking you for your kindness and your love. As the sun sets and all through the night, we will keep proclaiming, "You are so faithful!" Melodies of praise will fill the air as every musical instrument, joined with every heart, overflows with worship. No wonder I'm so glad; I can't keep it in! Lord, I'm shouting with glee over all you've done, for all you've done for me! What mighty miracles and your power at work, just to name a few! Depths of purpose and layers of meaning saturate everything you do.