In The Word
Read: Psalm 25
Prayer for Protection, Guidance and Pardon.
A Psalm of David.
25 To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in You I trust,
Do not let me be ashamed;
Do not let my enemies exult over me.
3 Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed;
Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed.
4 Make me know Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your paths.
5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
For You I wait all the day.
6 Remember, O Lord, Your compassion and Your lovingkindnesses,
For they have been from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
According to Your lovingkindness remember me,
For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.
8 Good and upright is the Lord;
Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in justice,
And He teaches the humble His way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and truth
To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.
11 For Your name’s sake, O Lord,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
12 Who is the man who fears the Lord?
He will instruct him in the way he should choose.
13 His soul will abide in prosperity,
And his descendants will inherit the land.
14 The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him,
And He will make them know His covenant.
15 My eyes are continually toward the Lord,
For He will pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
For I am lonely and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
Bring me out of my distresses.
18 Look upon my affliction and my trouble,
And forgive all my sins.
19 Look upon my enemies, for they are many,
And they hate me with violent hatred.
20 Guard my soul and deliver me;
Do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
For I wait for You.
22 Redeem Israel, O God,
Out of all his troubles.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
One of the amazing promises of God is that He will never leave nor forsake us. When we earnestly seek Him, we will find Him. We read today throughout this Psalm that the heart of David was to have the Lord teach, lead, and instruct him. It seems David had learned through his life experiences that he wasn’t wise or strong in himself, but only wise and strong because of the grace and mercy of God.
We need to have this same trust and understanding in our relationship with God as well. We need to learn that without His teaching, leading, and instructing us daily in our lives, along with our obedience, we will stray off the Ancient Path the Lord has for us.
Maybe you find yourself in a season where you have forsaken your love for Jesus and no longer have the intimate relationship with Him you had when He first saved you. Possibly you have stopped spending time in His Word, speaking to Him in prayer; or, even if you still are doing these things, it has become an unfruitful routine where your heart isn’t in it. If that is you, then you don’t have to stay there. Repent to the Lord and realize that He longs to teach, lead, and instruct you daily in your life. His love for you is greater than you can even comprehend. Remember, He works for your good and “all the paths of the Lord are loving-kindness and truth to those who keep His covenant and His testimonies” (Psalm 25:10). Keep His covenant and allow Him to lead you down His paths of loving-kindness and truth today and each day.