You Stretch Out Your Hand: Psalm 138:1-8
Psalm 138 :1-8
1 I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise;
2 I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness;
for you have exalted your name and your word
above everything.
3 On the day I called, you answered me,
you increased my strength of soul.
4 All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O LORD,
for they have heard the words of your mouth.
5 They shall sing of the ways of the LORD,
for great is the glory of the LORD.
6 For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly;
but the haughty he perceives from far away.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies;
you stretch out your hand,
and your right hand delivers me.
8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.
- Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
- Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation paying close attention to the deep breath.
- With each in breath, breathe in God’s steadfast love and faithfulness.
- With each out breath, let go of any tension keeping your from the freedom of God.
- Continue to breathe letting the Holy create freedom within you.
- Consider the midst of trouble you are encountering.
- Scan your body and notice where this trouble is located in you.
- Focus on this place of trouble as you continue to breathe.
- See God’s hand stretch out toward you as you share the trouble with God.
- Continue to share with God until you feel lightness created in the midst of this trouble.
- Invite God to show you a path through the trouble.
- The Lord will fulfill the Lord’s purpose for you.
- Keep awake during the day as you remain open to God’s leading hand.
- Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and for any new insights you have received.
- Share as you feel led in the reply box below.
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, June 6, 2021, the Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
1 Samuel 8:4-11 (12-15) 16-20 (11:14-15)
Psalm 138:1-8
2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1
Mark 3:20-35
If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author. Permission to use in not-for-profit settings. (c) 2021 The Rev. Dr. Lil Smith, DASD
Rev. Dr. Lil Smith is a trained spiritual director, supervisor, and co-founder of Retreat House Spirituality Center in Richardson, TX. Upon completion of her spiritual direction training, Lil began Praying the Lectionary in 2011 as a spiritual practice for her morning prayer time. Instead of reading about someone else’s experience of God, it was important for her to create a prayer practice that would encourage felt sense experience of the Holy emerging from within. It dawned on her others might enjoy the practice, as well. So she began to share them on this site.
As you experience the practice of Praying the Lectionary, adopt a loving, caring, and compassionate stance. If the end of your prayer and meditation time is not pointing to love and hope, there is more work to do. Keep wrestling. God is faithful to your journey. Love and hope will emerge. Be gentle with yourself and befriend any judgment that arises in you.
