Monday
May 9, 2021

Disciples Learn to:
Ask, Seek, and Knock,
receiving good gifts from their Father in Heaven

Matthew 7:7-8

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Since this week's Sermon on the Mount theme is prayer, we dive into insights on prayer in our devotional time. Prayer is way too multi-faceted to capture in a few words, but any definition would involve communication with God.

Even more profound might be communion with God. The communication within prayer may be verbal or non-verbal; it occurs at intellectual level, emotional and spiritual levels; it could be on conscious or even unconscious levels, alone or collective; there are prayers of the heart, prayers of the mind, and prayers of the spirit; there are prayers of understandable words, with un-understandable words (yes I meant that!) and prayers with no words at all – even prayers with no end at all.

And we haven't even got to prayers that the Holy Spirit groans out for us. While this week’s insights won’t be exhaustive, let’s hope that they are informative.

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Prayer

Father, the depths of our potential relationship with You cannot be plumbed, but I ask that in Jesus, we would continue going deeper and deeper. I seek Your insight to stay on this path of spiritual life and growth. I desire to keep knocking day in and day out in pursuit of You, My Lord and God. Bless me and all who seek You similarly in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 119: Immersed in the Word of God

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An explanation of the connection between Psalm 119 and the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet was provided in a previous devotion.

Micro-Meditation Scripture

Psalm 119:25-32 (Daleth, 4th letter)

ד

  1. I am laid low in the dust;
    preserve my life according to your word.
  2. I gave an account of my ways and you answered me; teach me your decrees.
  3. Cause me to understand
    the way of your precepts, that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.
  4. My soul is weary with sorrow;
    strengthen me according to your word.
  5. Keep me from deceitful ways;
    be gracious to me and teach me your law.
  6. I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
    I have set my heart on your laws.
  7. I hold fast to your statutes, LORD;
    do not let me be put to shame.
  8. I run in the path of your commands,
    for you have broadened my understanding.

Micro-Meditation Action

Read the verses of the Psalm two times.  Focus on what you see differently on the second reading.

Mark any words or phrases that catch your attention.

Meditate: Talk (or write in a journal) with God about the words that catch your attention. Ask Him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect a response.

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Micro-Meditation
Pondering Point

The traditional sense of the letter Daleth is lowliness or humility, which kicks off this section of Psalm 119.

Note the shape of the letter reflects bending low in submissiveness.