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Dear San Marco Church Family: If you attended worship last Sunday, in person or online, you know that Bishop Berlin challenged us to read Psalm 86 each day this week and to spend 10 minutes each day in prayerful reflection. I have followed this plan, and the practice has offered a few insights. Psalm 86 starts out asking for God to listen to one who is “poor and needy.” It feels awkward to think of myself as poor and needy, but it is a reminder of my utter dependence upon God’s Spirit for any joy and energy in my life. In order for God to lift us out of what ever struggles we face, we must acknowledge our need. Articulating our need is necessary so that we are open to how God answers. In my experience, God’s answer to my cry for help typically does not come right away. Rather, the initial answer may only be a reminder that God is with me in the struggle. That reminder can reorient me so that I stop regretting the past or worrying about the future. God’s call is always to live in our circumstances with daily awareness of God’s presence. As Bishop Berlin explained Sunday, the Psalm reminds us that God cares about us, and that God can and does lift our Spirits out of our fear and helplessness. Repeatedly, the writer refers to himself as God’s servant who says to the Lord, “to you do I cry all day long.” This practice of reminding ourselves of our “God dependence” strengthens our faith by keeping our focus not on ourselves or our circumstances, but on Christ who gives us strength. For me, perhaps the most pivotal line from Psalm 86 is “give me an undivided heart to revere your name.” Often my problems occur when my heart is divided between thinking I can do things on my own and realizing that God’s Spirit is partnering with me. My prayer for all of us is that our hearts develop deep and undivided trust in the One we call Lord. As the bishop reminded us, the Lord answers, the Lord cares, and the Lord lifts. (ACL). May we remember this daily. For this Sunday, May 3, the scripture will be John 14: 1-14. I will be sharing a message entitled “Knowing the Way.” I appreciate your prayers for me and for our worship team each week. I look forward to seeing you Sunday! Steve Hart
stevehart100@gmail.com
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