Psalm 27:12b-14

Psalm 27:12b-14

Psalm 27:12b “…false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.”

[Satan certainly rises against me and incites people to do the same. I think of a neighbor who in the past spread lies about me on facebook and in town and threatened me.

I praise you that you allow such attacks to strengthen my faith, expose my sin and mature me. As you led me to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving for my neighbor’s actions, and to respond by doing good to him, you resolved the situation and he’s become pleasant and positive.

Help me to discern the lies told about me, whether they come from the devil, my flesh, people, or the world—and to counteract them with your truth.

Help me also to be alert to any violent aspects of my own emotions that come from my old nature, the world and the devil: anger, impatience, strong words and negative actions. Help me to quickly process them before they can control me and to act instead out of truth, love and grace. I praise you for your gracious, specific protection and help.]

Psalm 27:13 “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.”

[No matter how bad things get, your goodness will always be there, and it will shine through in the end. “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life”(Ps. 23:6).

My confidence needs to be in your goodness, not measured by my desires being fulfilled, by my comfort or success, but by your greatness and glory revealed in your Word, by your beautiful and pristine character, as revealed in creation and by your doing what is best, as revealed in history.]

Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”

[Repetition of this command to wait shows how important it is. I must wait for you, spending time with you, listening to your direction, not acting too early and on my own desires. As my wife is fond of saying “Waiting on the Lord is the greatest economy of time.”

[In you, in the midst of my weakness, I can be strong and take heart, for you are strength itself, you are faithfulness itself, you are wisdom itself. You have a plan and will bring it to pass. “In the day of my trouble I will call upon you, for you will answer me” (Ps. 86:7).

I praise you, Lord, for your trustworthiness, for the certainty of your moving at the right time, for your answering my prayers in the right way.

You are right, Lord, you are true, you are good and faithful. Therefore I can rest in you. Praise be to you for what you will do today as I wait on you.]

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