Psalm 16
August 4, 2024 Father, Son, Holy Spirit,
On a daily basis we are confronted with choices in where we will put our hope, or where we will put our trust, or where we will draw our strength to survive the day. We see people who rely on their own strength, or their own money, or our politicians and government, to provide security. Security can be viewed as physical security or financial security or emotional security. Lord, in all these venues that challenge or threaten our security, help us to lean on you for our security.
Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. Turn our hearts toward you. We celebrate you. We worship you. We turn our hearts and our minds toward you because you are the only one who can save.
Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. You are in control in all situations. You hold our lot and our fortune. You know our situation. In Philippians 4, Paul tells us his secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. Our physical world continues to change. Are we destroying our planet? Are we destroying our culture or someone else’s culture? It is true in Genesis 1 And God blessed them. And God said to them “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” God commanded us to have dominion.
Preserve me, O God, in our election season, where politicians and pundits make claims that frustrate and callous my heart. The sorrows of those who idolize politics shall multiply. Forgive us for putting too much hope in politics. May we set the Lord before us, may set the Lord as our right-hand-man to counsel us.
We pray for the 6 billion people in our world, in nations that are at war with other nations or in civil war within their own nation. Their physical security is always vulnerable. It may be hard to think beyond the immediate question of how will I make it through today? We lift them up to you. We pray for our missionaries around the world that can share your good news and message of hope. May your good news penetrate to all corners of the earth, and transform lives.
We pray all of this in your holy and mighty name.
Amen