May 1
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LET YOUR FACE SHINE THAT WE MAY BE SAVED!
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,
Stir up your might and come to save us! 3 Restore us, O God;
Let your face shine, that we may be saved!
4 O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears
And given them tears to drink in full measure.
6 You make us an object of contention for our neighbors,
And our enemies laugh among themselves.7 Restore us, O God of hosts;
Let your face shine, that we may be saved! 8 You brought a vine out of Egypt;
You drove out the nations and planted it.9 You cleared the ground for it;
It took deep root and filled the land. – Psalm 80:1-9
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Matthew Henry’s commentary on Psalm 80:1-8 says that He that dwelleth upon the mercy-seat, is the good Shepherd of his people. But we can neither expect the comfort of his love, nor the protection of his arm, unless we partake of his converting grace. If he is really angry at the prayers of his people, it is because, although they pray, their ends are not right, or there is some secret sin indulged in them, or he will try their patience and perseverance in prayer. When God is displeased with his people, we must expect to see them in tears, and their enemies in triumph. There is no salvation but from God’s favour; there is no conversion to God but by his own grace.
It is interesting how human nature is bent on praying for things that may not be really good for us in the long run. We must aim instead to let the Spirit lead us in prayer.
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ADORATION: Lord, you are the light that brightens our whole world. Praise be to you.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when my prayers are not right.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for the light that you shine on me.
SUPPLICATION: May your spirit reveal to us only what you want me to pray for.
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REFLECTION
• How can we align our prayers with what God wants us to pray for?