God’s help against our Enemies

Posted byJim SimoneauPosted inUncategorized

Day 194: Psalm 56: 1 – 2

Psalm 56:1 To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Silent Dove in Distant Lands.” A Michtam of David when the Philistines captured him in Gath. Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up; Fighting all day he oppresses me. 2My enemies would hound me all day, For there are many who fight against me, O Most High.

            O God, while I see David in this Psalm and those who opposed him, I also see reflections of the Lord Jesus and his enemies. But in a far lesser way, in a real way, my enemies are many (See Ps 22: 16 – 21; 38:19). I see the world, my sinful flesh, the devil, and his schemes.

These do not want me or any of your people to love and follow you in their fallen state. They would capture us on their web, deceive us, and mislead us. They would destroy us. O Father, help us not be so naïve that we refuse to believe that there are wicked forces that oppose you and that also oppose us as we seek to follow you. John 15:20 reminds us that if they hated and persecuted Jesus, then they will hate and persecute us also.

            Help us not to be overwhelmed and overcome by their evil rather help us overcome their evil by Christ’s resurrection goodness working in and through us, above and beyond us (Rom. 12: 21). Even though a mighty host of enemies stand against us, still You are for us (Ps 27:3). And if God is for us, no one can truly prevail against us (Rom 8: 31, 32). Though our enemies are cunning, powerful, and all around us, our hope is in the Lord.

            O God, we find our strength and rest in you and in your only Son, our Savior, and King.

In Jesus’ name alone. Amen!

Published by Jim Simoneau

Jesus Christ brought me to Himself at a very early age. I began seeking the Lord and writing prayer journals in my early teens and have continued to grow in my knowledge and experience of prayer. I am still learning and growing in my prayer life and long to help others grow in their prayer lives as well. I am not an expert, but a practitioner who needs God to continue to teach me to pray. Prayer is both simple, yet also profound. It is deep and draws us into the depth of God, but it is also so easy and wondrous that we can cry out to God with "Abba, Father" prayers because of the work of Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. Prayer comes from God's heart, works in our hearts, and teaches us to go back to seek God's heart!

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