In the last pastoral message of 2023 (31 Dec), my writing was somewhat melancholic – echoing the tone of Psalm 90 and the worrying events of the world during that season. I thanked God for His Word and had thought of moving on from Psalm 90. However, over the next week or so, no fewer than 3 others shared their own reflections from Psalm 90! This prompted me to continue ruminating on Psalm 90 and not leave it on that moody note. From the melancholy (and perhaps tiredness) of 2023, God was gradually revealing a fresh “melody” for 2024.​

From Psalm 90:1, we can see that Moses’ security in God’s unchanging nature and hope in Him as an everlasting dwelling space was “rock solid” (pun intended) and that helped me form a principle to end off 2023: “In a tumultuous world, God’s unchanging nature & steadfast love is my source of satisfaction and security.” Grounded by the foundation of God’s unchanging nature and steadfast love, Moses was able to confidently and humbly cry out to God in verses 12-17 of Psalm 90.​

So, it is from this second half of Psalm 90 where God helped me craft a Prayer-Guide that will shape and sharpen my prayers for 2024. May this prayer-guide serve as a blessing and encouragement to you. ​

​

1. Pray for a Heart of Wisdom ​

“So teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Ps 90:12) ​

Set against an 11-verse backdrop which highlights humankind’s fragility and mortality, wisdom here is narrowed down to our need to discern and live lives for what is of eternal value instead of what is temporal.

2. Pray for Christ’s Return ​

“Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants!” (Ps 90:13)​

Moses’ 3-word cry of “Return, O Lord!” mirrors John the Apostle’s 4-word prayer towards the end of Revelation – “Amen. Come Lord Jesus!” (Rev 22:20). We need to learn to pray this, for it acts as a reminder of Man’s depravity and God’s saving grace.

​

3. Pray that God’s Steadfast Love will be Our True Satisfaction​

“Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” (Ps 90:14) ​

May we realise that God’s steadfast love is the only thing that can bring true, unending joy, and we can subsequently yearn for it.

​

4. Pray for an Appreciation and Acceptance of both Joy and Suffering ​

“Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil.” (Ps 90:15) This might be the hardest prayer yet but the one we might need the most. Both joy and suffering await the disciple of Christ and we are to understand that they are not mutually exclusive but two strands of a single fibre.

​

5. Pray that the Next Generation will have a Personal Knowledge of God ​

“Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.” (Ps 90:16)​

May our children have their own personal faith and journey with Jesus Christ, and not because of their parent(s) or grandparent(s).

​

6. Pray for God’s Favour over the Work of Our Hands ​

“Let the favour of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!” (Ps 90:17)​

Only God can make our work meaningful and lasting and only He can ensure that our labour is not in vain. ​

By Pastor Adrian Ow​