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Listen while you read: "Be Still My Soul"1
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Moshe Reuven Asman, chief rabbi of Ukraine, called on Christians and Jews to say together the following words from Psalm 31 as Russian forces attacked the Ukraine on various fronts.
Psalm 31:1-5 – In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me. Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me. You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake lead me and guide me, take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. (NRSV)
People of faith are drawn together to offer comfort and consolation to a nation in desperate need of guidance and grace. It is a time for sackcloth and ashes, ancient symbols of repentance and pleas for mercy.
The world is still in shock at the brutality and inhumanity of the events still unfolding, and yet, in the midst of this madness, we hear story after story of how people are embracing their faith in new and powerful ways. We are hearing of both people and pastors responding in compassion to the situations and circumstances that they are facing daily and facing in faith.
Many of us have been praying for the people caught up in this vicious war. The rabbi has directed us to the words of this ancient psalm which takes on new and powerful meaning as we see these events though the lens of faith.
As today we place ourselves into divine hands, we also place the people of the Ukraine into those same hands, seeking both God's protection and peace. I adapted a powerful prayer which embraced these thoughts:
Prayer: God, this is truly a season and a time for people of faith to put on sackcloth and ashes — a day of lament, a day of sorrow. We sigh. Help us also to make it a day of repentance, a day of regret. May that regret reach the hearts of leaders who would counsel war and aggression, hostility and violence. We sigh. Romans 8:26 invites us to express and experience the depths of prayer possible in the Spirit, "for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words." We sigh. Amen.
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About the author:
Kenn Stright <kennethstright@yahoo.ca>
West Petpeswick, Nova Scotia, Canada
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Amen Kenn.
Amen and Amen.
Thanks for the good reminder, Kenn.
Appropriate, Kenn. Helpful. Thank you.
Thank you Kenn for saying what so many of us are praying.
Thank you for putting into words a way for us all to pray for the people so affected by this terrible war, Kenn. God Bless!
Amen, Kenn. May God’s will prevail on earth as it does in heaven. Praying.
Blessings.
Thanks for this sensitive and encouraging devotional, Kenn. My prayers for Ukraine are filled with sighs too. Lord, have mercy.
Kenn,
Thank you so much for these wonderful thoughts, words and prayers you have offered up today!
That devotional and the scripture verse you chose were so needed. Thank you for the wisdom God gave you to pray for the nations that need God more than ever right in this Lenten season. Blessings,
(Ontario!)
Thank you Kenn for another of your very mindful and special devotionals. Today with so much going on in our world we have a lot to take to our loving Lord in prayer and we know he is ever there to hear us. Blessings for these writings you do and for a pleasant day ahead.
Thank you Kenn, for addressing full on the issue of these days. You show real leadership by facing what’s on our minds, yet many of us feel there isn’t much we can do. To begin with acknowledging we are people of faith is a first step, prayer another, then engagement with the world around us.
(ON)
Good morning Kenn,
It is with a sad heart that I have been looking at the news this last month. I pray for the people of Ukraine several times each day and night. I have trouble understanding why this is allowed to go on day after day. Words fail me. Thank you for your good words. I have always liked that Psalm.
Blessings.
Wonderful! Thank you for sharing that Psalm – I read several psalms every day, and every one of them seems to have prayer application for the situation in Russia and Ukraine – and all the countries, and leaders, that are involved directly and indirectly. Confession and repentance are paramount – for ourselves, and for those who are actively promoting this evil violence. I shall join what I hope is ‘throngs’ of people praying Psalm 31 daily. God bless.
Thank you.
Dear Kenn:
I found this exceptionally meaningful.
Thank you.
Beautiful Kenn. Thank you for your devotional.
Blessings,
(QC, CANADA)
Thank you Kenn for your “devotional” this morning. I had just prayed that I didn’t know what to say and how to pray as I was praying for Ukraine, its people and also for the Russian people, but I do know that “the Holy Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words” as you mentioned in your prayer at the end.
Thank you for sharing what the chief Rabbi of Ukraine encouraged both Christians and Jews to say together – Psalm 31. This Psalm will have even more meaning to me. PTL.
God bless you in Nova Scotia as you live for Him.