Read Psalm 46:1-3,
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
Songs:
(We've selected versions of these songs that emphasize congregational singing; you can also use our weekly Sunday Songs playlist on Spotify to access these songs. Also note that we have no control over the ads that pop up at the beginning of the YouTube videos.)
VERSE 1
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name
CHORUS
On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
VERSE 2
When darkness hides His lovely face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
VERSE 3
His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay
VERSE 4
When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne
He Leadeth Me (Spotify; YouTube)
VERSE 1
He leadeth me; O blessed thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be,
Still ‘tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
REFRAIN
He leadeth me, He leadeth me;
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.
VERSE 2
Sometimes ‘mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s flowers bloom,
By waters still, o’er troubled sea,
Still ‘tis His hand that leadeth me.
VERSE 3
Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine,
Nor ever murmur, nor repine,
Content, whatever lot I see, since
‘Tis Thy hand that leadeth me.
VERSE 4
And when my task on earth is done,
When, by Thy grace, the victory’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me.
VERSE 1
When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul
CHORUS
It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul
VERSE 2
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come
Let this blest assurance control
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate
And has shed His own blood for my soul
VERSE 3
My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin, not in part, but the whole
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul
VERSE 4
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend
Even so, it is well with my soul
Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:25-34
Matthew 6:25–34
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
Spend a few minutes personally or with your family praying through these verses in Matthew 6. You may want to use the ACTS acronym to guide you (if this feels too complicated....just pray as the Lord leads you!):
Adoration: give praise to God for what this passage reveals about God's character and nature ("Father, I praise you for making yourself known as a generous and faithful, loving heavenly Father; for provding for the birds and the lilies of the field...")
Confession: confess how you have fallen short of living in light of the truths declared in this passage ("Father, forgive me for how I have lost sight of your tender care and comfort and trusted in my own resources above your own...")
Thanksgiving: give God thanks for ways that He has particularly blessed you (i.e., "Father, thank you for your provision of food and shelter, for your Fatherly love and compassion..."
Supplication: ask God for His gracious provision and help along the lines of what this passage teaches (i.e., "Father, help me to trust that you are good and loving and will provide for my needs....").
Song:
Oh, The Deep Deep Love (Spotify; YouTube)
O the deep, deep love of Jesus!
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free,
rolling as a mighty ocean
in its fullness over me.
Underneath me, all around me,
is the current of thy love;
leading onward, leading homeward,
to thy glorious rest above.
2 O the deep, deep love of Jesus!
Spread his praise from shore to shore;
how he loveth, ever loveth,
changeth never, nevermore;
how he watches o'er his loved ones,
died to call them all his own;
how for them he intercedeth,
watcheth o'er them from the throne.
3 O the deep, deep love of Jesus!
Love of ev'ry love the best:
'tis an ocean vast of blessing,
'tis a haven sweet of rest.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus!
'Tis a heav'n of heav'ns to me;
and it lifts me up to glory,
for it lifts me up to thee.
Read Psalm 131
O LORD, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
O Israel, hope in the LORD
from this time forth and forevermore.
Sunday Reflection: A Quiet Heart (Psalm 131) from Joy Community Fellowship on Vimeo.
(Click here if video does not appear on this web page)
Song:
There is a Hope (Spotify; YouTube)
There is a hope that burns within my heart,
That gives me strength for every passing day;
A glimpse of glory now revealed in meagre part,
Yet drives all doubt away:
I stand in Christ, with sins forgiven;
And Christ in me, the hope of heaven!
My highest calling and my deepest joy,
To make His will my home.
There is a hope that lifts my weary head,
A consolation strong against despair,
That when the world has plunged me in its deepest pit,
I find the Saviour there!
Through present sufferings, future’s fear,
He whispers ‘courage’ in my ear.
For I am safe in everlasting arms,
And they will lead me home.
There is a hope that stands the test of time,
That lifts my eyes beyond the beckoning grave,
To see the matchless beauty of a day divine
When I behold His face!
When sufferings cease and sorrows die,
And every longing satisfied.
Then joy unspeakable will flood my soul,
For I am truly home.