Saturday – December 5

Psalms 20, 21:1-7; Amos 5:18-27; Matthew 22:15-22

 
Listen to the author read their meditation and prayer:
Dr. Gena Minnix Advent Meditation
“The Lord answer you in the day of trouble…” – Psalm 20:1
When we’re in distress, we tend to behave out of character. We may act out with our loved ones only, or with strangers we think we won’t ever see again. In our distress, we often seek to control our surroundings, numb our pain, and protect ourselves from further distress. These control tactics are like the efforts of wounded people to cover up their injuries with thicker, stronger armor. When we approach God this way, we pray as if we’re fine and don’t need anything. We perform our religious practices and family rituals all soldiered up, invisibly bleeding on the inside. But what alternative is there? Jesus urges, “Give to God what is God’s.”
Our trust, our vulnerability, our honesty in times of distress… these belong to God. These we can verbalize to God and trusted others, and slowly the religious armor peels away. By being simply a human being in distress, we make ourselves available for God and others to respond. And the Psalmist prays for us and with us, may “the Lord answer you in the day of trouble.”
God, who is near to the brokenhearted, give us words to pray in our distress. We trust you care and are listening. Amen.
 
Dr. Gena Minnix joined the Seminary of the Southwest faculty in 2014 as Assistant Professor of Counselor Education. Gena is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist trained in systemic and trauma therapies, personality theory, and Relational-Cultural Theory.