Day 62:Psalms 28:8-9
Psalm 28:8 The LORD is their strength, And He is the saving refuge of His anointed.
Amazing and Glorious, only Sovereign, omnipotent and Triune God, You alone are the strength of Your people. It is in the power of the resurrected Christ by the working of Your Holy Spirit that we stand and face all the challenges of this life!
Lord, You have taught me to pray in the Lord’s prayer, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Lord, it is not just my deliverance, but the deliverance of all Your people that concerns me. The Apostle Paul said that after he left the Ephesian elders certain wolves would come in and attack the flock. Lord, deliver Your people.
And Lord, You have delivered them. You save Your people not only from their own sins, but the sins of others against them. Lord, I am not the solution to peoples’ crisis, but You are! You can and will use me. You have made me a shepherd. Help me not be like the hireling who runs away at the first sign of trouble. But also help me know when I should fight and stay, and when I inform others and let them fight.
The battle belongs to the Lord. Flesh and blood are not the ultimate enemy. We fight against principalities and powers through the strength of the cross of Christ alone. We can resist the devil and he must flee from us according to God’s word. And God has delivered His children again and again.
Psalm 28:9 Save Your people, And bless Your inheritance; Shepherd them also, And bear them up forever.
Because the Lord Jesus did save His people through His incarnation, crucifixion, and the resurrection, we have already begun to know Your amazing blessings. We are seated in heavenly places through Jesus Christ. We are united to Him by His incredible work. You continue in prayer over us. You strengthen us through every trial, even when we have lost all our own strength.
Father, because You saved us once for all in Christ, but also you have saved us again and again through various circumstances. Because You have shown us that You love us and care for us, we come to You and seek Your aid. We rely on You alone, for only You can fully and finally deliver us. The arm of flesh will fail us, we dare not trust our own. While You may use all sorts of aid, from the simplest and most mundane, to the most awesome and incredible devices and miracles, yet all the aid comes from You. Your past grace gives us hope for the present and future grace. You have not led us this far to abandon us and forget us. Because of the evidence of Your past work, because of the seal of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, because You have not spared Your only Son, our Lord, we come boldly to Your throne of Grace to find mercy and grace in our time of need.
We come not only for momentary deliverance, but we also seek the blessing that You have given and promised us in Christ. You have adopted us as children. You have given us an inheritance in Christ. You have promised not only future blessings, but also Your present help in time of trouble. Because of this we come to You, not only to deliver us from difficulties but to bless us in our walk with You. Encourage our hearts, strengthen us to fulfill our calling in Christ.
Lord, You are the perfect and good shepherd who has laid down His life for His sheep. You have laid down Your life for us. We are Your people and the sheep of Your pasture. As the perfect shepherd You know exactly what we need. Help us, O Lord. Guide us. Feed us and protect us from our enemies. Lead us in peace and in quiet. Help us to endure and trust and follow You until You bring us safely to our heavenly home.
Help Your chosen leaders, Your under-shepherds to follow You in Spirit and in truth. But who is worthy of these things, O Lord. Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ Jesus (II Corinthians 2:14)! Amen and Hallelujah!
Growing in Prayer 