My Prayer Today

Psalm 31

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

¹ O Lord, I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be disgraced. Save me, for you do what is right. ² Turn your ear to listen to me; rescue me quickly. Be my rock of protection, a fortress where I will be safe. ³ You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger. ⁴ Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me, for I find protection in you alone. ⁵ I entrust my spirit into your hand. Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.

⁶ I hate those who worship worthless idols.
I trust in the Lord.
⁷ I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love,
for you have seen my troubles,
and you care about the anguish of my soul.
⁸ You have not handed me over to my enemies
but have set me in a safe place.

⁹ Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress.
Tears blur my eyes.
My body and soul are withering away.
¹⁰ I am dying from grief;
my years are shortened by sadness.
Sin has drained my strength;
I am wasting away from within.
¹¹ I am scorned by all my enemies
and despised by my neighbors—
even my friends are afraid to come near me.
When they see me on the street,
they run the other way.
¹² I am ignored as if I were dead,
as if I were a broken pot.
¹³ I have heard the many rumors about me,
and I am surrounded by terror.
My enemies conspire against me,
plotting to take my life.

¹⁴ But I am trusting you, O Lord,
saying, “You are my God!”
¹⁵ My future is in your hands.
Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.
¹⁶ Let your favor shine on your servant.
In your unfailing love, rescue me.
¹⁷ Don’t let me be disgraced, O Lord,
for I call out to you for help.
Let the wicked be disgraced;
let them lie silent in the grave.^a]">[a]
¹⁸ Silence their lying lips—
those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly.

¹⁹ How great is the goodness
you have stored up for those who fear you.
You lavish it on those who come to you for protection,
blessing them before the watching world.
²⁰ You hide them in the shelter of your presence,
safe from those who conspire against them.
You shelter them in your presence,
far from accusing tongues.

²¹ Praise the Lord,
for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love.
He kept me safe when my city was under attack.
²² In panic I cried out,
“I am cut off from the Lord!”
But you heard my cry for mercy
and answered my call for help.

²³ Love the Lord, all you godly ones!
For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him,
but he harshly punishes the arrogant.
²⁴ So be strong and courageous,
all you who put your hope in the Lord!

I'm often reminded of God's love through the relationship I have with my own children. When they fall down and skin their knee, I'm right there to pick them up, brush them off, hold them, and kiss their boo-boo. When their feelings are hurt, I'm right there to hug them and remind them that no matter what, "Mommy loves them". I would do anything for my children. There is absolutely nothing that they could do in order for me to stop loving them. It is the most pure love this side of heaven.

I think about a parent/child relationship many times when I think of how much God must love his own children. But, I also know that my love for my children is only a small fraction, a very tiny glimpse of the pure and perfect love that the Lord has for us. Nothing can compare even if we can have a small taste.

We'll never understand everything on earth until we meet our creator one day. We'll never fully comprehend his love for us and his mercy. We'll never understand all the "why's" in life until our life on earth is complete. There are so many questions, and the only answers I know are the ones that the Lord holds. Sometimes we are in a valley and sometimes are on top of a mountain, but God is always there. We aren't always understood by fellow humans who are also sinful and flawed, but God searches our hearts and knows the truth. We aren't here to obey man or to please them. We are here to worship the one true and living God. We can't hide from him. We can't be dishonest with Him, for he knows everything. He is the beginning and the end. He is our everything!

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. We claim it all for his glory and honor. He only has our best interests at heart and his divine will ahead of those that are obedient to his word. His ways are not our ways and no matter what, he holds it all in his hands.