Slices
Prepare
What feels broken in life right now? Pour your heart out to God.
Bible passage
For the director of music. To the tune of ‘The Lilies of the Covenant’. Of Asaph. A psalm.
1 Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
shine forth 2 before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Awaken your might;
come and save us.
3 Restore us, O God;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.
4 How long, Lord God Almighty,
will your anger smoulder
against the prayers of your people?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears;
you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.
6 You have made us an object of derision to our neighbours,
and our enemies mock us.
7 Restore us, God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.
8 You transplanted a vine from Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.
9 You cleared the ground for it,
and it took root and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered with its shade,
the mighty cedars with its branches.
11 Its branches reached as far as the Sea,
its shoots as far as the River.
12 Why have you broken down its walls
so that all who pass by pick its grapes?
13 Boars from the forest ravage it,
and insects from the fields feed on it.
14 Return to us, God Almighty!
Look down from heaven and see!
Watch over this vine,
15 the root your right hand has planted,
the son you have raised up for yourself.
16 Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;
at your rebuke your people perish.
17 Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
the son of man you have raised up for yourself.
18 Then we will not turn away from you;
revive us, and we will call on your name.
19 Restore us, Lord God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.
Explore
When did you last plead with God? In today’s reading, the psalmist sounds desperate and possibly in danger from the enemies who mock them (vs 6,7). The verses draw on the Exodus from Egypt and the Lord taking care of the replanted vine (vs 8–11). There are times in life when we might turn to God, feeling confused when he takes away the safety of walls that we have built (v 12). Or we might even feel as though God has totally abandoned us and ask him to return, just like in verse 14. And we remember how it took 40 years for the children of Israel to reach the Promised Land.
This psalm could feel rather unsatisfying because it does not conclude with everything nicely tied up and life sounding rosy again. But psalms like this are so helpful to us when we are in pain. The psalmist gives us permission to plead with God and be honest with him. Whatever is going on in life, we can approach God knowing that he loves us, chooses us, is for us and has the power to restore even those situations that seem broken beyond hope.
Respond
When faced with pain and desperation, our biggest weapon is praise. Pray to the God whose arms surround you. Praise him, knowing that he will fight your battles for you.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Deuteronomy 15,16; Psalm 34
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for the dedicated team of Scripture Union Chile volunteers who lead training sessions, asking that God will increase their faith, renew their passion, and keep them steadfast in sharing the gospel of Christ.
Equipping the church to reach the next generation
Across England and Wales, increasing numbers of children and young people are asking big questions about life, faith and meaning. Many are more open than we might assume – curious, thoughtful, and ready for conversations about Jesus, even when church isn’t part of their everyday world. For churches who have a heart for the next generation, this presents a real and hopeful opportunity.
Many leaders carry a deep desire to help the next generation encounter Jesus, but with full diaries and many responsibilities, knowing how to respond – or where to begin – can feel uncertain. That’s why we’ve created the It’s Time to Act guide.
It’s a simple, encouraging resource designed to help churches take thoughtful, realistic steps towards revealing Jesus to the next generation. Rather than offering big programmes or quick fixes, the guide focuses on what’s possible now – small, achievable actions that can grow over time. Inside, you’ll find practical ideas shaped by real church life that work alongside busy schedules and varied contexts. So, whether your church is just beginning to explore this opportunity, or already taking steps, the guide aims to meet you where you are and help you discern what comes next.
Our hope is that It’s Time to Act feels less like another initiative, and more like an invitation – to notice where God is already at work, and to take a next step, one step at a time.
If you’d like to explore the guide and see whether it could support your church, you can order a copy here.
