Fen 23 Daily Rhythm

Morning
Psalm 80:1-3

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth. Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might and come to save us! Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!

Oh God, your people of old have modeled that we should cry out to you and you alone to restore us. Far too often we look to the things the world can offer us. Stir up our hearts to call out to you and you alone to restore us.

Afternoon
Psalm 80:4-7

O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers? You have fed them with the bread of tears and given them tears to drink in full measure. You make us an object of contention for our neighbors, and our enemies laugh among themselves. Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved!

Oh God, it is in your face alone that our restoration lies! There is nothing else that can or will ever satisfy. Restore our hearts. Restore yourself to us. Make our affection for you surpass our affection for the things we can put our hands on for a little while.

Evening
Psalm 80:8-19

You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land. The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches. It sent out its branches to the sea and its shoots to the River. Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit? The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it. Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine, the stock that your right hand planted, and for the son whom you made strong for yourself. They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your face! But let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself! Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name!
Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!

Oh Father, you have saved your people through fire, water and blood! You have spared us from sin and death. You have gone to extremes to rescue us. We stray sometimes, you never do. As we rest tonight let us rest in the knowledge that you never abandon your people even though your people may abandon you. Restore us God!! Let your face shine on us and save us.