Psalm 40.4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, ...

Psalm 40.4

Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!

Lord, the phone call as I began to pray this psalm, letting me know that one of Your faithful has suffered a heart attack: A very dear brother, one who has been an example to me and many others for years, one who has sought the truth and striven to avoid following the Lie.

My prayer is for my brother, that as You walk with him through this valley of the shadow of death, he will be very aware of Your Presence at his side. I pray for complete and miraculous restoration of the wondrous muscle we call our heart to a condition of full and complete function, beating once again as You designed it to do.

My prayer for his wife is that she will continue to be the rock of the family, bringing Your love in the form of a wife and mother’s love to him and to their children. That You will comfort her and relieve her from all anxiety.

For his children and grandchildren: for comfort and reliance on You as they assume more responsibility for their parents at this new stage of life. Thank You, Lord, for the testimony of that Godly family over the years through trials and blessings.

Psalm 40.1-3 I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry.

Psalm 40.1-3 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.

You have heard my cry, You are opening the eyes of my heart, You are lifting me out of the pit of destruction and setting my feet upon the Rock. There is a new song in my mouth, a song of praise and thanksgiving. And You are blessing me by using me to bring Your Blessing to many others. Praise Your holy Name!

O, taste and see that You are good. Let Your sweetness be both honey in my `mouth and repletion in my stomach. I must be 2 seconds into the dawn, and that is awesome. What will it be like when I behold You in all your Glory?

Exodus 20.1-3 "...You shall have no other gods before Me.”

Lord's Day, 28 September 2008
Exodus 20.1-3

And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me.”

Your commandment is so against the sinful nature of self-willed man – that nature which declares that I am my own god, I am the master of my destiny, the captain of my fate.

Lord, strip that from me! You are my God, You are the master of my destiny, You are the captain of my fate, in You I put my trust. Lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 119.165-168 Great peace have those who love Your law; nothing can make them stumble.

Psalm 119.165-168

Great peace have those who love Your law; nothing can make them stumble. I hope for Your salvation, O LORD, and I do Your commandments. My soul keeps Your testimonies; I love them exceedingly. I keep Your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before You.

I do love Your Law, LORD; it guides me and provides a sure and steady light for my path. I just need to learn to not take my eyes off You and Your bright and illuminating light.

I want to keep Your precepts and testimonies. I know that all my ways are before You, that nothing is hidden and that You know when I stray. Lord, give me the willingness to be obedient to Your Word.

Psalm 119.161-164 Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your words.

Psalm 119.161-164

Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your words. I rejoice at Your word like one who finds great spoil. I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love Your law. Seven times a day I praise You for Your righteous rules.

I don’t do this, Lord; I do not consciously stop during my day to praise You and to listen for Your voice. And I will not do this without the strength, guidance, and transformation of the Holy Spirit. I come to You in my weakness, pleading for You to prod and prompt me. It is a case of the spirit being willing (most of the time) but the flesh is weak (all the time).

Psalm 39.12-13 “Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; ...

Psalm 39.12-13

“Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; hold not Your peace at my tears! For I am a sojourner with You, a guest, like all my fathers. Look away from me, that I may smile again, before I depart and am no more!”

Lead me and guide me today for, unlike David, I am not a sojourner with You. I am your child, Your son who seeks to delight in Your presence. Do not look away, Lord, but cause me to smile in the warmth of Your gaze.

Psalm 39.8-11 Deliver me from all my transgressions.

Psalm 39.8-11

Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool! I am mute; I do not open my mouth, for it is You who have done it. Remove Your stroke from me; I am spent by the hostility of Your hand. When You discipline a man with rebukes for sin, You consume like a moth what is dear to him; surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah

It’s almost funny, Lord, the way you take away the sin I treasured and held so dear. No, not almost, it is hilarious. Those dreams of wealth and fame, now shown to be will-o-wisps that lured me from serving you, gone (mostly). Keep at me, Lord, but always remind me of how much You love me.

Psalm 39.5-7 Behold, you have made my days a few hand breadths, ...

Psalm 39.5-7

Behold, you have made my days a few hand breadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather! And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.

Lord, we are like a tissue tossed in the stove. Poof and gone! It contributed nothing to the warmth of the house; its only value was that, being gone, it did not serve to litter the house. So our lives can seem, O Lord; but You have made us in Your image, for Your Kingdom and glory. Help me not to dwell on the fleeting nature of my life, but on the eternal blessedness of knowing You.

My hope is in you, Lord – in you, in you!

Psalm 39.1-4 I said, “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue;

Psalm 39.1-4 To the choirmaster: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

I said, “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.” I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse. My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: “O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!”

What a lesson to me here, Lord. So often I have let my distress build until I spoke out against the situation or person I perceived as the source of my aggravation. But David seeks you instead; he comes to you to gain an understanding of his rightful place in the Kingdom. He pleads to see his insignificance. Help me to do the same.

Exodus 20.1-2, 17 And God spoke all these words, saying, "You shall not covet ..."

Lord's Day, 21 September 2008

Exodus 20.1-2, 17

And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery…You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Lord, teach me to find satisfaction and joy in what You have provided. Teach me to look at each circumstance of my life, each provision of my life, each opportunity of my life, and see the goodness of Your hand. I need to learn that all is from You and everything is a measure of the fullness of Your love for me.

Psalm 119.155-156 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek Your statutes.

Psalm 119.155-156

Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek Your statutes. Great is Your mercy, O LORD; give me life according to Your rules.

How wonderful it is to live within Your law and statutes; they give testimony to Your mercy, they are the boundaries of my salvation, the defining outline. Within them is life; outside is death.

Psalm 119.153-154 Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget Your law.

Psalm 119.153-154

Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget Your law. Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to Your promise!

There is life in Your Word, LORD, for life everlasting is to know You and Your Son, Jesus Christ, Whom You have sent. To attain that intimacy with You, to be constantly wrapped in the Word, to have understanding of Your will and purpose, to walk with You as Enoch did – let this be all my desire, O Lord!

Another step along that path of knowing You – that is my desire for the day. My prayer is that as I fall asleep tonight, I will recount the ways and moments that we have spent together during this day; that each one of those moments will be as a precious jewel to me, never to be forgotten and always treasured.

 

Psalm 38.17-22 For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me.

Psalm 38.17-22

For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me. I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin. But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully. Those who render me evil for good accuse me because I follow after good. Do not forsake me, O LORD! O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!

Lord, I want nothing to come between You and me! My heartfelt cry is to be one with You. I want to see You in all Your glory with the eyes of my heart. Lord, give me the eyes that John saw with on the Isle of Patmos, the eyes of Paul on the road to Damascus, the eyes of Isaiah as he saw You on Your throne, yes, give me the eyes of Stephan as he saw You standing at the Father's right hand. Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation.

Psalm 38.13-16 But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, like a mute man who does not open his mouth.

Psalm 38.13-16

But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, like a mute man who does not open his mouth. I have become like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth are no rebukes. But for You, O LORD, do I wait; it is You, O Lord my God, who will answer. For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me, who boast against me when my foot slips!”

Lord, give me deafness -- to the siren calls of lust and greed; take away my glib tongue that gossips and slanders; blind my eyes to the lures of materialism and self-will; shield my heart from the fears of the unknown and the uncertain. Give me Your heart; mold me and make me in Your image, into a reflection of Your grace and mercy.

Psalm 38.9-12 O Lord, all my longing is before You; my sighing is not hidden from You.

Psalm 38.9-12

O Lord, all my longing is before You; my sighing is not hidden from You. My heart throbs; my strength fails me, and the light of my eyes – it also has gone from me. My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my nearest kin stand far off. Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long.

Without You, my Lord and my Master, I cannot continue. All my strivings are futile and destructive. I need You to heal and restore. Bring me into the light of Your love to expose my sin. Renew and direct my feet in Your path, along the Way of Righteousness.

Psalm 38.1-8 O LORD, rebuke me not in Your anger, nor discipline me in Your wrath!

Psalm 38.1-8 A Psalm of David, for the memorial offering.

O LORD, rebuke me not in Your anger, nor discipline me in Your wrath! For Your arrows have sunk into me, and Your hand has come down on me. There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness, I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning. For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.

Lord, is there unconfessed sin in my life, where have I not cried out to You in contrition, seeking Your forgiveness and healing? Where is the rotten and foul stench of sin still hiding the sweet aroma of Your companionship? Where do I need to cry out, “Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner?” and seek Your mercy and grace?

Exodus 20.1-2, 16 …You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Lord's Day, 14 September 2008

Exodus 20.1-2, 16

And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery…You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

How will I be challenged by that today, LORD? What opportunities will I have for bearing true witness for my neighbor? Keep me this day, from the love of a joke that uses others as the butt. It is a way of bringing attention to me, when I make people laugh at someone else’s expense. Help me, LORD.

Psalm 119.145-152 With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD!

Psalm 119.145-152

With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD! I will keep Your statutes. I call to You; save me, that I may observe Your testimonies. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in Your words. My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on Your promise. Hear my voice according to Your steadfast love; O LORD, according to Your justice give me life. They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from Your Law. But You are near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are true. Long have I known from Your testimonies that You have founded them forever.

Lord, that I would be as faithful in prayer as the writer of this psalm. My resolve each morning is to find time to pray during the day, but it does not happen. The little supplications as I think of on behalf of someone or something don't count; I need to develop the practice stopping to listen to you, spending a few concentrated moments meditating on Your Word and Law, seeking Your wisdom.

Help me, Lord! Show me something that will serve as a reminder, a trigger, an Ebenezer. I am an old dog, but You can teach me new tricks.

Psalm 37.30-40 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,...

Psalm 37.30-40

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip. The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death. The LORD will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial. Wait for the LORD and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off. I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree. But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found. Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off. The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble. The LORD helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him.

Teach me to wait for You, Lord – wait, and keep to Your way! How difficult this is for an impatient man, used to being in command and setting his own course. Grant grace, Lord, that I may accept that You are my refuge and my stronghold in times of trouble. This is not the way of the natural man. But I must hold fast to Your promise that You will deliver, You will save, You are my refuge.

Praise be unto You, my Lord and my Master.

Psalm 37.21-29 The wicked borrows but does not pay back, ...

Psalm 37.21-29

The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives; for those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land, but those cursed by Him shall be cut off. The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in His way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing. Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. For the LORD loves justice; He will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.

Lord, this is a promise to be realized today and every day. Not that I shall inherit gold, silver, and the material wealth of society, but that I will inherit the Kingdom of God, and, indeed, may even enter it more completely today. I come into Your presence – You, the King of Glory, the Prince of Peace, the One Who has all things under His feet – and I live. This is how those precious brothers and sisters live in the areas of the world where persecution predominates; they are living in the Kingdom now, basking in Your presence, enjoying Your smile.

Lord, keep this truth before me, today and everyday.

Psalm 37.8-20 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!

Psalm 37.8-20

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land. In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him, but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for He sees that his day is coming. The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright; their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever; they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance. But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish--like smoke they vanish away.

I know, Lord, I know that I am not to fret, not to resort to anger, for all my future is in Your control. You are taking care of those who rise up against me and who wish me harm – whether they are men or spirits. You are providing for my every need; You are pouring Your goodness out over me so that my soul may know Shalom. My only concern is to seek Your face, to allow Your Holy Spirit to infuse me with a spirit of meekness and to lead me in the path of righteousness.

Psalm 37.3-7 Trust in the LORD, and do good; ...

Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

Trust in, delight in, commit to, be still before, wait patiently for. the LORD. Then I can do good, dwell in the land, befriend faithfulness, gain the desires of my heart, live righteousness and justice, live in peace and joy. What a challenge! What blessings!

Lord, lead me into that state of trusting, delighted, committed quiet patience that reveals You in all Your Glory. “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth with grow strangely dim in the light of His Glory and Grace.”

Psalm 37.1-2 Fret not yourself because of evildoers;...

Psalm 37.1-2 Of David.

Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.

Lord, this is a hard teaching, for it is so easy for me to see the prosperity of those who live for today; and so easy to forget to fix the eyes of my heart on the unseen glories that surround Your throne. I forget that the seen is temporary and so fades away, but the unseen is eternal and will never fade.

Exodus 20.1-2, 15 God spoke all these words, saying, “…You shall not steal.”

Lord’s Day, 7 September 2008

Exodus 20.1-2, 15

And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery…You shall not steal.”

I am not to take but to give. Not to hate but to love. Not to tear down but to build up. Not to stir up strife but to reconcile. Not a taker but messenger of mercy.

Psalm 36.5-12 Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens,...

Psalm 36.5-12

Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; Your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast You save, O LORD. How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your delights. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light. Oh, continue Your steadfast love to those who know You, and Your righteousness to the upright of heart! Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. There the evildoers lie fallen; they are thrust down, unable to rise.

Your steadfast love sustains me in spite of me. You see me in the perfection that I will become, and You superintend the process of perfecting me. As I fail, I turn to the shadow of Your wings and the abundance of Your house; I drink from the river of Your delights. “Delight in the Lord and He will satisfy the desires of your heart.” What a promise! I know You do not forsake me, but do not let me forsake You. In Your presence is joy forever more.

Psalm 36.1-4 Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart;...

Psalm 36.1-4 To the choirmaster. Of David, the servant of the LORD.

Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.

Lord, as I read this, my first thoughts are of the many men in the prison who think that, by regularly attending various times of worship and prayer, they are fooling us and You. Most likely, they are fooling me, but You, never. I do lift each one of them up in prayer that Your Spirit will smash through that wall of self that hides their inmost fears from the world around them.

But then, Lord, I realize that the wicked and foolish object of this prayer is me. The old man is in his death throes, but his dying kicks and flailings are still causing trouble. I am plagued by self, by the conviction that I can figure out how to do it (whatever it is?), that I can set priorities and schedules. Lord, it is akin to plotting evil in my bed! When will I learn to seek Your face first and then to follow Your guidance?

Psalm 119.137-144 Righteous are You, O LORD, and right are Your rules.

Psalm 119.137-144

Righteous are You, O LORD, and right are Your rules.

Your rules, Lord, are demonstrations of righteousness; they show me what it is to be righteous.

You have appointed Your testimonies in righteousness and in all faithfulness.

These examples have been selected out of Your righteousness and faithfulness.

My zeal consumes me, because my foes forget Your words.

The things that cause trouble in my life are those things which are outside the realm of Your righteous Law. As I grow in enthusiasm for You, I am able to recognize those things more readily. Lord, I come to You seeking life in You.

Your promise is well tried, and Your servant loves it.

I know Lord, that when I do obey and am faithful, everything falls into place. Help me to be more obedient and to grow in love for Your Word.

I am small and despised, yet I do not forget Your precepts.

Lord, teach me humility. Teach me obedience so that I will not forget.

Your righteousness is righteous forever, and Your Law is true.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but Your righteousness is a never-ending constant, the only “law of nature” that will never change. Likewise, Your Law is the only universal truth; it will always be.

Trouble and anguish have found me out, but Your commandments are my delight.

How can I forget the joy that comes when I am obedient to Your commandments! Troubles and anguish become insignificant in Your presence.

Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.

In the comfort of Your Word, in the nest of your Law, is life; give me a complete knowing of that precious place so that I may have life everlasting. “This is eternal Life, to know the one true God and his Son, Jesus Christ Whom He has sent.”

Psalm 35. 19- 28 Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes,...

Psalm 35. 19- 28

Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause. For they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the land they devise words of deceit. They open wide their mouths against me; they say, “Aha, Aha! Our eyes have seen it!” You have seen, O LORD; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me! Awake and rouse Yourself for my vindication, for my cause, my God and my Lord! Vindicate me, O LORD, my God, according to Your righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me! Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha, our heart’s desire!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.” Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether who rejoice at my calamity! Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me! Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, “Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of His servant!” Then my tongue shall tell of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long.

Lord, as I become what I should be, let all who knew me as I was, rise up in praise and thanksgiving for the mighty work of transformation You have wrought in my life. As my life begins to reflect Your glory, let all who know me be leap to shout, “Great is the Lord, Who delights in the welfare of His servant.”

Psalm 35.11-18 Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know.

Psalm 35.11-18

Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know. They repay me evil for good; my soul is bereft. But I, when they were sick-- I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest. I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; as one who laments his mother, I bowed down in mourning. But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered; they gathered together against me; wretches whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing; like profane mockers at a feast, they gnash at me with their teeth. How long, O Lord, will You look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions! I will thank You in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise You.

Lord, as I read these verses, You bring to mind my responsibilities towards those who are suffering and afflicted. How do I, or how should I grieve and mourn? Pray and lament? You have filled my life in the last few years with the sick, broken, hurting, dregs of society, and You’ve told me to lament, mourn and pray for them. You teach me to see them as You see them, to love them as You love them, to be Your agent of reconciliation and restoration for them – not for my glory, Lord, but Yours.

So, I need teaching and humility. Both! Lead me in the path of righteousness for Your Name’s sake. Lead me into Your wisdom, give me Your priorities, show me where to apply the strengths and gifts You give me to the needs of those You have brought me to serve.

Psalm 35.1-10 Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me;

Psalm 35.1-10 Of David.

Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help! Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul, “I am your salvation!” Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life! Let them be turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me! Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away! Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them! For without cause they hid their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life. Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it! And let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it--to his destruction! Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD, exulting in His salvation. All my bones shall say, “O LORD, who is like You, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him?”

I hear You, my Lord and Master; You are my salvation, against all the Evil One can throw against me. Let depression, anger, rejection, shame, greed , lust, pride, covetousness, impatience, self-will, and arrogance be banished from my life. And Lord, give me the ability to recognize and know that I have been transformed, so that I can see and rejoice in the new life, praising You for the healing and reconciliation.