Mixtapes Reading Plan – W4D3

Check out all the previous Mixtapes readings here.

Mixtapes Reading | Week 4 | Day 3

Prayer

Take a moment to be silent and still. In order to be fully present in body and mind, take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. Do this three times. Pray that God would open your eyes to wonderful things from His word today.

Bible Reading: Psalm 77

Read these verses three times slowly.

I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands,
and I would not be comforted.

I remembered you, God, and I groaned;
I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.
You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.
I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;
I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart meditated and my spirit asked:

“Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?
Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God?
You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

The waters saw you, God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.
The clouds poured down water,
the heavens resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.
Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.
Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.

You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Reflection

Everyone experiences anxiety; in fact, it is just one of many emotions that God gave us to help us. Anxiety is intended to help our brains deal with dangerous or stressful situations. Although everyone experiences it at some level, there are times when we can get stuck in anxious thoughts, and the weight of anxiety can make us feel like surely we will drown.

Psalm 77 begins with Asaph crying out to God in his trouble, his time of need. He gets stuck, feels abandoned and troubled, and questions God’s love and promises. While Asaph is stuck, he can only see his situation and what’s happening around him. But the psalm takes a turn when Asaph remembers all the wonders God has done for His people. God has restored and redeemed His people; He rescued them from Egypt by making a way through the water and parting the Red Sea. It is important that when we feel overwhelmed and anxious and question God’s promises or His love for us, we look back to the things He’s already done. Spend time praying for God to help you see how much He loves you and has worked wonders in your life.

No one can handle everything on their own; we must start by bringing everything to God and asking Him to help us. There are a lot of tools we can use to help manage anxiety, and sometimes, that looks like getting professional help with our mental health. God loves you so much that He doesn’t want you to live with the struggle of anxiety.

Prayer

Talk to God in response to today’s reading.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

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Questions?