Devotions (James) #5

MON, 25th May

Psalm 4

Questions

1. When is the last time you cried out to God in need? What did you expect to hear? Did you expect to hear back?
2. Knowing that God hears when we call out to him, how does that change the way we pray and speak to him?
3. God has given us so much: relief, mercy, ears to hear, prosperity, and peace. What is it that you need from him today?

Prayer Suggestions

1. Cry out to God with what is on your heart, knowing that he will hear you.
2. Thank God for his goodness and providence upon our lives.
3. Pray for rest — to rest knowing that the Lord is our safety and refuge.
4. Seeker Monday: take a moment to pray for an unbelieving friend or family member, for them to come to meet God.

TUE, 26th May

Psalm 5

Questions

1. Why is Psalm 4 considered an evening psalm and Psalm 5 a morning psalm?
2. List out the attributes of God found in verses 4-6. Consider also why the name of God (Yahweh or YHWH) is used here in some versions of the Bible.
3. What is the wicked like as described in verses 4-6 and 9-10?
4. The life of faith is described as a road, or a path, or a way. Why?

Prayer Suggestions

1. Pray that you would find the good way and not the wicked way.
2. Pray that as you offer up your requests to God, that you would also be given the patience to wait upon him to reply.
3. Pray for a non-believing friend who is walking in the way of the wicked. Pray that God would deliver them from evil.

WED, 27th May

Psalm 6

Questions

1. What was David going through in this psalm? Give evidence from the passage.
2. Why is it important to not simply weep, but to also pray in our tears (or to “pray out tears”)?
3. In verses 8-10, David confidently declared that God hears his prayers, and that his enemies will be put to shame. Do you have faith that God is for you and accepts your prayers?

Prayer Suggestions

1. Verse 3 states: “My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long?” Pray in this way today — pray out your tears, the prayer of deep anguish.
2. Pray for a person or an issue that you stopped praying for because things got too hard or too heavy. Just bring it up again with God no matter what it is.
3. Sit in the Lord’s presence knowing that he has heard your prayer today. Sit and reflect on what it means to be heard by our Heavenly Father.

THU, 28th May

Psalm 7

Questions

1. In our lives, how do we normally take refuge in God?
2. What did David ask God to do?
3. What are you asking God to do in your current situation?

Prayer Suggestions

1. Pray that we would find refuge in God, that he would be our resting place.
2. Ask God to intervene in your life. Even if it’s in a way that might not be the most ideal for you, ask him to get involved.

FRI, 29th May

Psalm 8

Questions

1. How does the psalmist describe God?
2. How does the psalmist describe man?
3. Noting the big difference, how does this psalm put your life in context?
4. Write out four words that describe God in your own language.

Prayer Suggestions

1. In reading the psalm again, picture God and reflect on how he is described.
2. Use the four words that you wrote to describe God in your prayer. Expand on how God is described by those terms.
3. Thank God for being who he is and how marvellous he is.
4. Mission Friday: on every Friday, we’d like to take time to pray for our mission partners. Take this time to pray for mission work around the globe; that even during this pandemic, God’s kingdom would continue to take hold throughout the world.

SAT, 30th May

Psalm 9

Questions

1. What would become of the nations, and of the wicked?
2. What is the difference between the two gates mentioned in verses 13-14?
3. Who does the Lord not forget (v12, 18)? How does knowing this affect us?

Prayer Suggestions

1. Use verses 1-2 to begin your prayer. Give thanks and rejoice in him.
2. Pray for those persecuted in the world because of their faith. Pray for the afflicted, especially those in suffering because of their faith.
3. Pray that we would remember that it is God who rules and reigns over the world.

SUN, 31st May

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