“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.’ Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.” Psalm 91:1-3
Those who trust in the most-high God and take refuge in His grace and mercy won for us by God’s Son, Jesus Christ, have God’s promise of deliverance from the traps of enemies and from diseases and plagues, later called “the reward of the wicked” (v. 8).
O LORD, “my refuge and my fortress,” my God in whom I trust, have mercy on me, forgive my sins, and keep me in Your grace and under Your protection. Amen.
“Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my mind and my heart. For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth.” Psalm 26:2-3
David here asks the LORD God to examine and test his innermost thoughts and desires so that he might repent of any evil in his life, look to God for mercy and forgiveness, and continue to walk in God’s truth. Are you willing to ask God to examine your heart and soul and reveal any evil in you so that you might repent and appeal to God’s lovingkindness for pardon and the strength to amend your life and live for Him?
“Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my mind and my heart,” and move me to repent of my sinful ways and look to Christ Jesus and His cross for mercy and forgiveness. Grant that I live my life for You in accord with Your Word. Amen.
“Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” Psalm 1:5-6
Those who remain impenitent and continue in their sinful and rebellious ways will not stand in God’s judgment or be counted members of Christ’s Church. Instead, they will be condemned to the eternal fires of hell. But the LORD knows the way of those who are sorry for their sins and trust in Christ Jesus. He will give them eternal life in His presence.
Grant that I acknowledge and repent of my sins, O LORD, and look to Christ Jesus and His cross for mercy and forgiveness that I may stand uncondemned in Your presence. Amen.
“He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.” Psalm 1:3-4
Those who delight themselves in the truths of God’s Word are like trees growing along streams of water. Even in drought, their leaves do not wither, and they continue to bear fruit. The ungodly — those who do not hear and heed the teaching of God’s Word — are like chaff which the wind blows away. They are not gathered into God’s kingdom but are cast out and burned in the fires of hell.
Teach me Your life-giving Word, O God, and strengthen and preserve my faith in You and Your promises of life and salvation in Christ Jesus, the Son. Amen.
“And Zacharias said to the angel, ‘How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.’” Luke 1:18
Even though an angel appeared to Zacharias to announce the birth of a son who would call God’s people back to repentance and faith in the coming Messiah and Savior, Zacharias questioned the truthfulness of God’s words. God’s promise was beyond possibility in his eyes. How quick we, too, are to discount God’s promises as impossible and doubt them!
Grant that I consider the source of the Bible’s promises, O Lord, and trust that what You have promised me in Christ Jesus You are also able to do. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
