Morning by Morning, September 28 - Free to Express Both Fury and Hope
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Give me right heart, a right spirit, as I begin my day trusting in You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...
A psalm of David -- in his frustration and fury at the ways of the world around him and of those with the power and influence over him -- comes to my mind this morning, as I reflect on the events of these days. You give us permission to fully express our thoughts and feelings to You without varnish or veneer; and then You give us invitation to turn it all over to You, into the hands of the One who is the only Judge who really matters:
"Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry;
give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit.
From You let my vindication come;
let Your eyes see the right.
If You try my heart, if You visit me by night,
if You test me, You will find no wickedness in me;
my mouth does not transgress.
As for what others do, by the word of Your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.
My steps have held fast to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.
I call upon You, for You will answer me, O God;
incline Your ear to me, hear my words.
Wondrously show Your steadfast love,
O Savior of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at Your right hand.
Guard me as the apple of the eye;
hide me in the shadow of Your wings,
from the wicked who despoil me,
my deadly enemies who surround me.
They close their hearts to pity;
with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
They track me down; now they surround me;
they set their eyes to cast me to the ground.
They are like a lion eager to tear,
like a young lion lurking in ambush.
Rise up, O Lord, confront them, overthrow them!
By Your sword deliver my life from the wicked,
from mortals-by your hand, O Lord-
from mortals whose portion in life is in this world.
May their bellies be filled with what you have stored up for them;
may their children have more than enough;
may they leave something over to their little ones.
As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness;
when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness" (Psalm 17).
Our true enemies and our true battles are not against human flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of darkness that seek to steal, kill, and destroy every dimension of our lives and all that is good in our world (Ephesians 6:12; John 10:10). So "the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Our mighty weapons are things like humility, repentance, prayer, patience and perseverance in the face of cruelty and injustice, thanksgiving, worship, faith, hope, and love -- all in the power of Your grace to call on Your name and entrust ourselves to "the One who judges justly" (1 Peter 2:23).
Lord, let it be so in me. Let it be so in my land. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, I pray you are free to fully express all your thoughts and feelings to the One who loves you and is always for you and will never let anything separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus, no matter what you endure on your journey of faith through this broken and fallen world, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257
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