Psalm 34 Broken and Crushed

A Psalm of David.

1 I will thank the LORD at all times. My lips will always praise him.
2 I will honor the Lord. Let those who are hurting hear and be joyful.
3 Join me in giving glory to the Lord. Let us honor him together.
4 I looked to the Lord, and he answered me. He saved me from everything I was afraid of.
5 Those who look to him beam with joy. They are never put to shame.
6 This poor man called out, and the LORD heard him. He saved him out of all of his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD stands guard around those who have respect for him. And he saves them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good. Blessed is the man who goes to him for safety.
9 You people of God, have respect for the Lord. Those who respect him have everything they need.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry. But those who look to the LORD have every good thing they need.
11 My children, come. Listen to me. I will teach you to have respect for the Lord.
12 Do you love life and want to see many good days?
13 Then keep your tongues from speaking evil. Keep your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn away from evil, and do good. Look for peace, and go after it.
15 The LORD looks with favor on those who are godly. His ears are open to their cry.
16 The LORD doesn't look with favor on those who do evil. He removes all memory of them from the earth.
17 Godly people cry out, and the LORD hears them. He saves them from all of their troubles.
18 The LORD is close to those whose hearts have been BROKEN. He saves those whose spirits have been CRUSHED.
19 Anyone who does what is right may have many troubles. But the LORD saves him from all of them.
20 The LORD watches over all of his bones. Not one of them will be broken.
21 Sinners will be killed by their own evil. The enemies of godly people will be judged.
22 The LORD sets those who serve him free. No one who goes to him for safety will be judged.

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I ask for your prayers as again, just this evening at 10 pm I received a call from my employer that my "assignment has been terminated". That's quite a fancy way of saying that I was laid off - yet another time - the third time within a year. God has provided for me and my family during the past year, but I must say, it has been one of the toughest years I've ever been through. Praise God for providing for us. I am truly walking by faith, because I can see no way in front of me. I have no idea what I will be doing, or where I will be, or whatever will happen. I just hope, and pray, and ask God to go before me, and to lead the way, and to clear the way, and to give us peace that can only come from Him. God is the ONLY one on whom I can depend. My stomach is upset, I've now got a serious headache, and yes, I'm stressed out. God, please save me! Please! Good night.

In God I Trust

Holy Father, find me. Search for me quickly! I feel as though I am adrift at sea and no one can spot me. I am but a speck, at a great distance away, too small to find. Father, your great waters are bobbing me up and down so that I am sick. I am unable to rescue myself, and no one else can hear my cry for help. I have sent out distress signals, but no one is watching. Everyone is busy emptying their own boats which are taking in water. I have given up on putting my confidence in those 'round about me. You have taught me that no one else is as reliable as you are. I have learned that I also have not heard or seen those flares from my friends. Father, forgive me for not being prepared, ready, and waiting for their signals.
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Father, you are my refuge. I am swimming hard to reach your shores. Please do not allow me to be removed from your safety. I know you are concerned for me, because there is no other who can protect like you. Where you are is always a good place to be found in times of trouble. Father, all of my troubles, cares, and worries - I throw them onto you. You receive them all so that I may rest easy and that I may be glad. You know how weary I am from running so hard away from them. You rub my sore muscles with your healing hands so that I fall quickly asleep.
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Father, you have rescued so many who have put their trust in you. You have delivered so many from such deadly perils, and you will deliver me as well. You are my only hope; there is no other on whom I can depend. There are many who have never heard of you, and therefore do not trust you like I do. But Lord, I cannot help but tell everyone how you have saved me. I have put my trust in you, and you have never left me alone. You have taught me in some difficult ways, but your lessons have become clear to me. It took me a while to see the answer clearly, but now I see how only you can be trusted.
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Father, I thought it was good for me to be proud, but you have taught me that I cannot. Instead, I boast only in what Christ has done for me, not what I have done for thee. Nothing I am; no matter how long I've followed you, can increase my worth in your eyes. I am no better than the best or worst in my life, I am only proud to be covered by Christ's blood. Without His life, sacrifice, and resurrection, all my hope would be lost. But because He reigns by your right hand, everything you've promised has already been guaranteed. Only in him and through faith in him may we approach you freely and confidently.
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So it is because of him I can come to you with my cries and petitions, knowing that you hear me. I am confident that you care for me, and that you will come quickly to my rescue. Have you not told me that I am worth more than the grass, the flowers, or the little birds? I know you care, and I will only trust in you. Please Father, now pick me up and place me in the cup of your hand and cover me. Dry me, warm me, feed me, protect me, provide for me, exalt me and elevate me in front of everyone. Allow me to proclaim to everyone how good you are, and what you've done for me. You have molded me, Father into a vessel of honor. Now Father, I am ready to be used for your purposes. Use me to pour out your Spirit onto others, Father. Use my touch to heal others pain. Use my voice to encourage others sorrow. Hear my prayers as I cry to you for them. Lord, come and rescue your people, and save us from this sorrow filled world. May the Holy son, Jesus Christ, my brother, take these words, and present them to you in his own way.
Amen.