Poor Man’s Cry

In these first days of sabbatical, it seems important to catalogue my gratitude, beginning with God’s gracious ways with me through his Son, Jesus. Hopefully, this spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving will permeate all that you encounter on this blog. Theology too often loses the plot by forgetting its proper mode, namely, doxology. All the words, constructs, and disputations are a vain and frigid exercise if they fail to bear witness to this truth: “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles” (Psalm 34.6).

To that end, let’s begin with a meditation and a prayer:

In the early morning, my God, I awaken the dawn with your praise for you have awakened my soul, drawing me from my slumber. Your steadfast love and mercies are new this morning, scattering my sins as far as the east is from the west. Truly, you are near to the broken hearted and save the crushed in spirit. When I was brought low, you heard this poor man’s cry and delivered me from all my troubles. Satisfy me, O God, this morning with your steadfast love; may you be my portion as I walk before you through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.