Day 22: Psalms 13: 1-6
Psalm 13:1-2 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
Lord, as Your Son my Savior cried from the cross, “My God, My God! Why hast Thou forsaken me?” so at times I feel forsaken and abandoned (Matthew 27:46). Yet, O Lord, I know down deep in my heart, that because Jesus suffered and died for all of my sins and all the sins of all Your people, I will never be forsaken.
Yes, there are still times when I feel alone, when I feel that You are far away (Psalm 22:1, 11) or that You are displeased with me, but Lord, You continue to sustain me. You have promised that You will never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:8).
Lord, we have not suffered anything in comparison to Christ or those martyrs who gave their lives, who were tormented by their enemies, the saints under the altar who cried, “How long, O Lord (Revelation 6:10).” We have not yet resisted to the shedding of blood (Hebrews 12:3-4).
Yet, O Lord, we cry out, “How long will others conspire against us, twist our words behind our back, seek to undermine us, find fault, and speak evil of God’s people? How long will they be allowed to continue?”
We ask that You forgive them, but also that they cease their evil, hurtful ways!
Psalm 13:3 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God. Enlighten my eyes lest I sleep the sleep of death.
Lord, teach me to trust You no matter what others do, even those I love. Lord, enlighten my eyes. Teach me not to be embittered or overly concerned with my enemies (Hebrews 12:14-15). Let my driving passion always be to love You, to delight in You, to serve You and to share Your love with others both now and forever!
Psalm 13:4 Lest the enemy say, “I have prevailed against him.” Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
Lord, do not let their evil make me evil. Help me not sin in response to others’ sin against me. Romans 12:21 reminds me not to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good. Lord, in Your time, You will manage all these things. You will cause us to rejoice!
Forgive me for my sinful responses to sin against me. Help me know how and when to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39-48) and when to shake the dust off my feet (Matthew 10:14). Help me not sinfully delight over our enemies and their suffering, but rather weep for them.
Psalm 13:5 But I have trusted in Your mercy. My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
Lord, You have been merciful to me again and again. You have not given me what I deserve. You have brought me out of the pit of despair and made me trust in You. You have given me reasons to rejoice in Your deliverance – in Your salvation. When my hope was gone – even before it was gone – You were opening a new door for me.
Father, please heal the wounds, the scars; let those memories be gone and done away. Let us live in joy before You all our days. Lord, restore the years that the locust has eaten (Joel 2:25-26).
Psalm 13:6 I will sing to the Lord because He has dealt bountifully with me.
O Lord, teach me what this means for us, for here, for now.
You have indeed caused us to sing and to rejoice in You and to be glad for all the things You have done. In place of repression, darkness and attacks You have brought encouragement, hope and life. Lord, let us live before You. 11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever! (Psalm 30:11-12)
You have blessed us here and will continue to bless us and enable us to sing to Your glory.
Help us sing Your praise. Let the world hear Your praise from us all. In Jesus name, Amen.
Growing in Prayer 
Amen! ❤️
LikeLike