Page 4 - Living light - The Psalms

PRAYER FOR TODAY
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Monday May 27 - Taking your stand
When the wicked advance against me to devour me... though war break
out against me, even then I will be confident. Psalm 27:2-3
You may feel that life is far more like a battle than a bed of roses. In today’s text David speaks of evildoers, enemies, foes and a besieging army – this is heavy stuff! On one occasion Jesus said to his disciples, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). Conflict should not take us by surprise, but sadly we can easily find ourselves ‘mugged’ when we least expect it.
Notice that these things are not mere possibilities, they are realities. The psalmist says ‘when’ not ‘if’. As a young believer I used to sing a hymn whose chorus ended, ‘and now I am happy all the day.’ Unfortunately, this is patently untrue. The reality is that I am not happy all the day; there are times when I am acutely sad. The reality is that conflicts and trials are not exceptions but the norm.
Friends, we are called to take our stand against the devil’s schemes (Ephesians 6:11). At times, such conflict is extreme, even to the extent of seeking to devour us; nevertheless we can be confident. The Hebrew word for ‘confident’ can also be translated as having trust, being secure, having assurance. Whatever stands against you today, know that your confidence is not to be found in yourself but in God. May the circumstances which seek to separate you from God be the very things that press you closer to his heart.
Father God, I choose to stand secure on the rock of my salvation. Thank you that this is unshakeable, immovable and eternal. Amen.
Tuesday May 28 - Fellowship with God
...this only do I seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4
Psalm 27 gives us the key to overcoming fear; namely, having fellowship with God. At Calvary, Jesus lifted the curtain of partition (our sin), giving us access to boldly approach God’s throne of grace and mercy (Hebrews 4:16). David sought fellowship with God more than anything else; he knew this was the key to life.
Very soon after I gave my heart to the Lord, I was given Matthew 6:33: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” It has been a pivotal truth throughout my 50 years of walking with the Lord. Seeking first! Who or what has prime place in your life? Has God been unconsciously dethroned, not necessarily by bad things but by secondary things – ambition, acquisition, well-being, image... dare I even add family to this list?
The repeated mention of dwelling places underlines the sense of communion with God: house of the Lord, temple, dwelling and tent (vv 4-5). The psalm is personalised – it’s David’s testimony. The greatest decision we can make is to repent (turn to God) and commit our lives to Christ. If you have not taken this step, please consider doing it today (see the prayer for personal commitment on page 39). But for us all, let’s stop, reflect, recalibrate and place Jesus far above all else.
Father, it’s your promise that those who seek you will find you (Proverbs 8:17) and my longing is to abide with you now and eternally. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY