Where is God?

The Lord is before his people. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice (John 10.4).

The Lord is behind his people. O Lord, you have searched me and known me. . . . You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me (Psalm 139.1, 5).

The Lord is above his people. More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters, more majestic than the waves of the sea, majestic on high is the Lord (Psalm 93.4).

The Lord is beneath his people. Listen to me, o house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, even when you turn gray I will carry you (Isaiah 46.3-4).

The Lord is around his people. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time on and forevermore (Psalm 125.2).

The Lord is with his people. "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." . . . . and remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 1.23; 28.20).

The Lord is in the midst of his people. The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love (Zephaniah 3.17).

Give me, O God, the wisdom that I need
To mold the tender lives within my care;
Give me the power that I may subtly lead
Them into righteousness--true joy is there.

I ask for them no rainbowed path of ease;
I ask for them no store of wealth or fame;
I only ask that by their lives they please
Thee and the world with an untarnished name.

I know that man is weak, and life is strong,
And sometimes honest roads look very drear;
That winning laurels often takes too long
And luring vistas from all sides appear.

But while my young are still beneath my wing,
God, help me guide them right in everything.

Author Unknown

I will exalt you, O Lord,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

O Lord my God, I called to you for help
and you healed me.
O Lord, you brought me up from the grave;
you spared me from going down into the pit.

Sing to the Lord, you saints of his;
praise his holy name.
For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.

When I felt secure, I said,
"I will never be shaken."
O Lord, when you favored me,
you made my mountain stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
I was dismayed.

To you, O Lord, I called;
to the Lord I cried for mercy:
"What gain is there in my destruction,
in my going down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
Hear, o Lord, and be merciful to me;
O Lord, be my help."

You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.

The prayer of Psalm 30 (NIV)

Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?
Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Romans 11.33-36 (NIV)

I began this blog over a year and a half ago with the desire to provide an online forum for prayer requests to be posted and for inspirational articles and comments on prayer to be offered. I'm not sure how many people read this blog (it may be very few), but I remain committed to updating it often. If you would like to contribute to the offerings posted here, or if you have a prayer request you would like to see posted here, please contact me at jeffrfoster@gmail.com.

You're the God of this city

You're the King of these people

You're the Lord of this nation

You are

You're the light in this darkness

You're the hope to the hopeless

You're the peace to the restless

You are

There is no one like our God

There is no one like our God

For greater things are yet to come

And greater things are still to be done in this city

For greater things have yet to come

And greater things are still to be done here

We believe, we believe in You, God

From the album Love, by Chris Tomlin

Lyrics by Bluetree (c) 2006

The prayer of Moses (Psalm 90.1-2 NKJV):

Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

Empty hands held high

Such small sacrifice

If not joined with my life

I sing in vain tonight

May the words I say

And the things I do

Make my lifesong sing

Bring a smile to You

Let my lifesong sing to You

Let my lifesong sing to You

I want to sign Your name to the end of this day

Knowing that my heart was true

Let my lifesong sing to You

Lord, I give my life

A living sacrifice

To reach a world in need

To be Your hands and feet

So may the words I say

And the things I do

Make my lifesong sing

Bring a smile to You

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Let my lifesong sing to You

Lifesong

Composed by Mark Hall

(c) 2005 Club Zoo Music

On the album Lifesong by Casting Crowns

The prayer of Psalm 145 (Holman CSB)

I exalt You, my God the King,

and praise Your name forever and ever.

I will praise You every day;

I will honor You name forever and ever.

Yahweh is great and is highly praised;

His greatness is unsearchable.

One generation will declare Your works to the next

and will proclaim Your mighty acts.

I will speak of Your glorious splendor

and Your wonderful works.

They will proclaim the power of Your awe-inspiring works,

and I will declare Your greatness.

They will give a testimony of Your great goodness

and will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.

The Lord is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and great in faithful love.

The Lord is good to everyone;

His compassion rests on all He has made.

All You have made will praise You, Lord;

the godly will bless You.

The will speak of the glory of Your kingdom

and will declare Your might,

informing all people of Your mighty acts

and of the glorious splendor of Your kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom;

Your rule is for all generations.

The Lord is faithful in all His words

and gracious in all His actions.

The Lord helps all who fall;

He raises up all who are oppressed.

All eyes look to You,

and You give them their food in due time.

You open Your hand

and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all His ways

and gracious in all His acts.

The Lord is near all who call out to Him,

all who call out to Him with integrity.

He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him;

He hears their cry for help and saves them.

The Lord guards all those who love Him,

but He destroys all the wicked.

My mouth will declare the Lord's praise;

let every living thing praise His holy name

forever and ever.

I will thank the Lord with all my heart;
I will declare all Your wonderful works.
I will rejoice and boast about You;
I will sing about Your name, Most High.

(Psalm 9.1-2 CSB)