Psalm 9:13 “O LORD, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,”

[Lord, there are many believers around the world who are literally being pursued to the gates of death. Praise you that you are there, helping them, strengthening them, delivering them, whether it be through the gates of splendor into eternity or out of the clutches of groups like ISIS and Boko Haram. You are both faithful and merciful in the help you powerfully provide.

Protect them, engrace them, help them to respond with your thoughts: praise for the privilege of suffering, prayer for the persecutors and blessing for those who misuse them (Matt 5:11,12,43,44). May this result in many coming to faith in Christ.]

Psalm 9:14 “that I may declare your praises in the gates of the Daughter of Zion and there rejoice in your salvation.”

[One major purpose of deliverance is to give you glory, Lord, to praise you for your goodness, to rejoice in you–not just to be relieved at the end of our pain and turn back to our self-centered, futile living.

Praise be to you for your power to preserve, for your strength to save, your promise to protect, your commitment to keep. May we live in the light of that today, passing through difficulties with the power of the Spirit, praising you for your deliverences–past, present and future.]