The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Psalm 23
Our Father,
You are seated on Heaven’s throne in glory, majesty, and supreme authority. You are in charge. You don’t make mistakes. You have promised that You will be with us, even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. [Psalm 23:4] You use hard times to get us to look up. So we look up! Now! We turn to You!
We pray You would deliver us from any evil agendas and powers, either foreign or domestic, visible or invisible, that would seek to take advantage of us at this vulnerable moment. Protect us. Guard us. Defend us. Keep us from giving in to temptation to believe the end justifies the means; to plot a course for this nation that is in opposition to You; to wound those who have wounded us; to seek revenge and retribution. We need You now, more than ever.
Today we acknowledge that Yours is the glory and the power. You have the final word. You keep the books. You are the Judge of both the living and the dead. [1 Peter 4:5] One day each of us will stand before You and be held accountable for the way we have lived…what we have said and what we have done. Help us to live every day in the light of who You are with That Day on our minds.
In the name of the One who taught us to pray…Jesus.
Amen