Great Plains Daily Devotional for 10/3/2020

Psalm 119:49-56 

Remember your word to your servant,
    in which you have made me hope.
This is my comfort in my distress,
    that your promise gives me life.
The arrogant utterly deride me,
    but I do not turn away from your law.
When I think of your ordinances from of old,
    I take comfort, O Lord.
Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,
    those who forsake your law.
Your statutes have been my songs
    wherever I make my home.
I remember your name in the night, O Lord,
    and keep your law.
This blessing has fallen to me,
    for I have kept your precepts.

I connect with God through song. That’s how I find God speaking to me and through me. It isn’t always through hymns or other religious songs, but it usually is. Whenever I read scripture, I connect that scripture with songs that I know, whether religious or secular. Then I find myself singing that song, in my head or out loud, on repeat.

Frequently, I have memory flashes of songs from long-past VBS weeks. Sometimes the whole song, but usually just a line or small part of the song is on my internal repeat. (“Father Abraham,” anyone? It somewhat makes me cringe — I am not a son — but I can’t get it out of my head, either. Yup, there is goes now.) I still sing a song to help me know the order of the books when I’m trying to find a Bible passage. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus ...

The songs keep me connected to God’s word and presence in my life. I find the hope, comfort, promise and guidance that I need, long after I have put the Bible back on the bookshelf or the worship service has ended.


Photo by Kathleen Barry, United Methodist Communications

Prayer for Reflection

Exodus 17:1-7
Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16
Phillipians 2:1-13
Matthew 21:23-32