Psalm 21

The King Rejoices in the Lord's Strength

O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults! You have gotten him his heart's desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold upon his head. He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever and ever. His glory is great through your salvation; splendor and majesty you bestow on him. For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the Lord, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.

Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those who hate you. You will make them as a blazing oven when you appear. The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath, and fire will consume them. You will destroy their descendants from the earth, and their offspring from among the children of man. Though they plan evil against you, though they devise mischief, they will not succeed. For you will put them to flight; you will aim at their faces with your bows.

Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power. 

Dear God, 

What would You have me learn from this passage? You will bless those who follow You closely. You will punish those who devise evil against You. Your heart for the least of these is made clear in Your Words. Those who devise evil plans devise evil against You. They will be punished in the end. You will not let them hurt the least of these. God, I ask You again to intervene on behalf of the least of these with regard to healthcare and safety nets that help them. I ask that You continue to provide for the least of these. I ask that You prick the hearts of the republicans who are trying to hurt the least of these. I ask that You cover the least of these with Your provision and Your blessings and Your protection.

Thank You.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

God Will Restore You to Health and Heal Your Wounds

"For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord, because they have called you an outcast: 'It is Zion, for whom no one cares!'" - Jeremiah 30:17

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. - Ephesians 3:20-21

He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man." - Luke 18:2

"And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?" - Luke 18:7

"For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." - Luke 11:10

Dear God, 

You will restore me to health and heal my wounds. You are with me, within me, and all around me. You are continually at work in my life. Even when I may be less aware of You, Your presence continues to shine brightly on me. You are able to do more than I can ask or think. I will continue to ask for Your intervention to make sure the least of these do not get hurt by the republicans with regard to healthcare and safety nets. 

Thank You.

In Jesus' Name, 

Amen

Live Bravely!

"Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!" - Psalm 31:24

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. - Romans 8:15-17

"To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." - I Timothy 1:17

Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. - Hebrews 3:5-6

Dear God,

Your Spirit lives in me. I have everything I need to be strong and brave if I only just put my hope in You. Living bravely means doing the right thing even if no one else is. Living bravely is sticking up for those who cannot stick up for themselves. Living bravely is helping and serving others. Living bravely is telling the world about You even if I get made fun of. When I live bravely, you make me even stronger and even more courageous. God, in this politically charged environment in America where the republicans are constantly attacking the least of these on matters of safety nets and healthcare, help to unabashedly stand up for the least of these! 

Thank You.

In Jesus' Name, 

Amen

Your Shield and Your Shepherd

This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.- II Samuel 22:31

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in oaths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." - Psalm 23:1-4

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep." - John 10:11

"I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep." - John 10:14-15

Dear God, 

You are a shield to those who trust You. You will shield me from danger and fear. You are my Sheoherd. You always watch over me. You will make sure I have everything I need. You are taking care of me. God, please keep close watch over the least of these as those monster republicans yet again attack the ACA, SNAP, and now even social security. There is not a safety net they haven't attacked this year. Please intervene and protect the least of these who rely on those safety nets. 

Thank You.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen