Tessera Materials

Prayer

God of justice,
your word is light and truth.
Let your face shine on us to restore us,
that we may walk in your way,
seeking justice and doing good. Amen.

Scripture

Psalm 138
I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart;
I will sing your praises before the gods.
I bow before your holy Temple as I worship.
I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness;
for your promises are backed
by all the honor of your name.
As soon as I pray, you answer me;
you encourage me by giving me strength.
Every king in all the earth will thank you, Lord,
for all of them will hear your words.
Yes, they will sing about the Lord’s ways,
for the glory of the Lord is very great.
Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble,
but he keeps his distance from the proud.
Though I am surrounded by troubles,
you will protect me from the anger of my enemies.
You reach out your hand,
and the power of your right hand saves me.
The Lord will work out his plans for my life—
for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
Don’t abandon me, for you made me.

Reflection

Scriptures like this bring up complex emotions. We are encouraged by them. We want to believe the truth of them. But we also live in a world of chaos and confusion. We hold faith and hope in one hand and lament in the other when we experience the complexities of life.

• In what ways do you see these verses fulfilled around you?
• In what ways do you desire to see these verses fulfilled?
• How can we keep hope alive in our hearts and embrace the truth of this scripture?

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