Thursday, March 1st, 2018
The endless stream of information we absorb from social media, TV, and news outlets can seem overwhelming, and frankly, confusing at times. In such times of confusion, we often turn to Jesus for direction. However at other times, when we have an abundance of creature comforts and sense of control of our lives, we tend to drift from Jesus. We forget to pray and give thanks and do not live fully reliant on Him. Such seemingly promised-land-living can quietly lull our faith and moral judgment to sleep until something topples us back to our knees and we come crawling back to God. Psalm 25 is a good prayer for such a time, for it says, “Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” In those moments of fear, doubt, and uncertainty, when it seems that there is no one and nothing to come to our rescue, Jesus is always there. It is better to walk through the desert with Jesus than the promised land without. Today, pray Psalm 25 to the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind and commit its words to memory.
“In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.
2 I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. 3 No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause.
4 Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. 5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. 6 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.
8 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. 9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. 10 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. 11 For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
12 Who, then, are those who fear the Lord? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.[b] 13 They will spend their days in prosperity, and their descendants will inherit the land. 14 The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. 15 My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. 17 Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish. 18 Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. 19 See how numerous are my enemies and how fiercely they hate me!
20 Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. 21 May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you.
22 Deliver Israel, O God, from all their troubles!” – Psalm 25 ESV
