Let Your Face Shine, God

Restore us, O God, let your face shine, that we may be saved. Psalm 80: 3 NRSV

What does it mean for God's face to shine?

For this psalm, God's shining face seems to have three levels of meaning. The first is that God notices; in other words, God's face turns to the psalmist and the plight of the people. The second is that God is not indifferent to the problems of God's people. God doesn't just look and then walk away. This leads to the third level of God's healing or restorative power. To shine on someone or some people means that God causes a miracle to happen: God's people are returned to where they were as God's favored ones.

So, praying for God's face to shine means that you are petitioning God to notice, be moved and heal.

Is there someplace in your life that you would like God to notice?

Is there an area of your journey with which you need God's empathy?

Is there a part of you that needs God's restorative and healing power?

Give this some thought for a moment.

Then, let us pray:

Restore us, O God, let your face shine, that we may be saved. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims