Psalm 30:1-12- Joy comes with the morning

PSALM 30:1-12¹   I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up,and did not let my foes rejoice over me.²   O LORD my God, I cried to you for help,and you have healed me.³   O LORD, you brought up my soul from Sheol,restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.⁴   Sing praises to the LORD, O you his faithful ones,and give thanks to his holy name.⁵   For his anger is but for a moment;his favor is for a lifetime.Weeping may linger for the night,but joy comes with the morning.⁶   As for me, I said in my prosperity,“I shall never be moved.”⁷   By your favor, O LORD,you had established me as a strong mountain;you hid your face;I was dismayed.⁸   To you, O LORD, I cried,and to the LORD I made supplication:⁹   “What profit is there in my death,if I go down to the Pit?will the dust praise you?Will it tell of your faithfulness?¹⁰  Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me!O LORD, be my helper!”¹¹  You have turned my mourning into dancing;you have taken off my sackclothand clothed me with joy,¹²  so that my soul may praise you and not be silent.O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever.

• Light a candle to remember Christ's presence with you.
• Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation paying attention to the deep breath.
• Identify a part of you that is hidden from God.
• Breathe into this place that is hidden.
• Be gentle with yourself.
• God is not hiding God's face from you.
• Turn toward God and reveal this place that is hidden.
• Allow God to remove the sackcloth.
• Be filled with the joy of God who loves us completely just as we are.
• Allow this joy to bathe the place that has been hidden.
• Praise God from this new place and be released from silence.
• Listen from this place to hear God's love for you.
• Give thanks to God for wholeness in love and for any new insights you have received.
• Share as you feel led in the reply box below.

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, July 7, 2019, the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C2 Kings 5:1-14Psalm 30:1-12Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16Luke 10:1-11, 16-20If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author. Permission to use in not-for-profit settings.  (c) 2019 The Rev. Dr. Lil Smith, DASD