Psalm 37:32 “The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, seeking their very lives;”
[This is an unavoidable fact of life here on earth: those who reject your way, Lord, will attack those who follow Jesus. They hate the righteous, they are motivated and guided by Satan who seeks to use them for his destructive and evil purposes.
We should not be at all surprised when such attacks come. To expect them is to have a biblical view of things, remembering Jesus’ words, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 15:18).] But, like the frost on the board in the picture below, such suffering brings out the inner beauty Christ gives us.
Psalm 37:33 “but the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned when brought to trial.”
[You will rescue us, whether it be by some divine intervention, or by giving justice, or by giving grace to endure through, or by taking us to yourself. Praise you for the certainty that you will guide, direct and protect us in all.
This is what we experienced in the Middle East, being arrested and put on trial for our faith in 1988. In the end, you led the prosecuting attorney to defend us and to define our freedom of religion widely and officially—all glory to you.]
I praise you, Lord, for the security, the rest, the peace, the joy that comes from knowing you, the great and sovereign King, Ruler of time and space and all that is in them.
You are the truly good One,
the wonderfully wise One,
the gloriously gracious One,
the infinitely patient One.
In you we can trust, in you we can rejoice when all goes sour, for your grace and goodness are enough, lifting us above the evil and hurt of life. Thank you, Lord God, for your care which will come in each succeeding moment.
To you be honor and glory in my life today, Lord Jesus, through my listening to your Word, submission to your Spirit, obedience to what I know to be true and praising you in and for all.
