Psalm 31:17 “Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, for I have cried out to you;”
[You, O Lord, desire honor for us, not shame: “As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved,” “my salvation and honor depend on God, my mighty rock and refuge” (Col. 3:12, Ps. 62:7).
So we can be confident that, as we bow before you and live for you, you will act in your faithfulness, in your goodness, and in your kindness to save us from shame. Help us to have Jesus’ attitude, “For the joy that was set before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame…” (Heb. 12:2] I praise you now for how you will act in the difficult situations before me to protect me from shame and bring both resolution and honor.]
Psalm 31:17b,18 “but let the wicked be put to shame and lie silent in the grave. Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous.”
[There are so many lies and false accusations uttered these days against followers of Jesus–even to the point of calling us terrorists! Doing good is denigrated; committing evil is exalted. I praise you, Lord, that in the midst of this, you are at work and will use the attacks of the enemy to advance your Kingdom.
And I thank you for your guidance on how to respond to these verbal attacks. Instead of feeling sorry for ourselves and being consumed with anger, frustration and discouragement, you call us to, “delight in weaknesses, hardships, INSULTS, persecutions and difficulties, for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). We can, in humility, shrug off the shame people want to put on us, walking instead in the light of the honor you heap on us as your beloved children.
Praise you, Lord, that these situations are opportunities to give you glory through trust, praise and doing good to those who do evil to us. May we so walk in faith, bringing you great honor before all the unseen hosts.]
