June 22 God Delivers

 

“Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men and women; protect me from people of violence who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up dissension and war every day. They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s; the poison of vipers in on their lips. Selah”

 

 

Father, as I think about this, I think of those who have made, planted and exploded bombs to hurt and kill random people, or targeted specific ones. And those who have taken lethal weapons and randomly attacked people around them. Some kill themselves in the process; some lay booby traps for even further devastation. The news reports on them and their stories. Some have political agendas. Some have emotional issues. Some are simply evil, and enjoy the resulting death and destruction.

Making their “tongues as sharp as serpents” allows them to masquerade as ‘normal’ until their deed is carried out. The poison in their words allows them to fool people around them into thinking nothing is wrong. Or possibly even lead others into the same darkness in which they operate. Their lies and deceit create confusion even after the fact, so that truth is hard to discern.

Father, “keep me from the hands of the wicked; protect me from people of violence who plan to trip my feet. They have hidden a snare for me; they have spread out the cords of their net and have set traps for me along my path.”

“Do not grant the wicked their desires. O Lord; do not let their plans succeed…”

Father, beyond those who would seek to kill, there are those who would delight in keeping me from Your righteous path; from living a godly life. Those who would enjoy the moral failure of any believer. Protect me and my loved ones from any who would act or plan to draw us away from You, or cause us to stumble in our pursuit of a closer relationship with You.  Do not allow ego, misunderstanding, or emotions to lead me away. Do not let me fall into hopelessness or depression that would keep me distant from You.   Protect my mind, my emotions, my body, my spirit from any and all attacks, 

“You are my God! Hear, O Lord, my cry for mercy. O Sovereign Lord, my strong Deliverer…”  Amen

Psalm 140:1-13

 

 

Apr 28 Teach me to be humble

O Lord, Gideon was so courageous to lead Your people into battle, and so wise to refuse lordship over them when asked. He was discerning and humble enough to say that You were the One to rule over them, not him or his son. But he took the spoil from that victory, and used the gold to make a chest piece. It became a snare to him and his family and the Israelites who worshipped it.

Forgive me Lord when I act like that. When I have a victory in my life, I desire to celebrate it! Show me how to celebrate humbly: how to give the rightful honor to You and not myself. Get my attention if I stray into worshipping what You have given me, instead of You, the giver.

Help me be humble like Gideon was. And like Gideon, help me point people to You instead of accepting acclaim for myself.

By the same thinking, do not let me worship or revere another person because of their success.   Do not let me idolize them or give them the attention that is due You. It is so easy to want to rub shoulders with the famous and powerful, hoping that some of their notoriety or success will transfer to me through the connection.

Remind me Lord, that my hope is in You. It is You I trust with the plan for my life. It is You who can make things happen and bring about goodness and blessing. I trust Your timing and Your provision. And I give You the glory and thanks for all that comes my way. Amen.

Judges 8:18-27