Daily Prayer
The Word for wisdom:
Proverbs 19:3 (HCSB)
A man’s own foolishness leads him astray, yet his heart rages against the Lord.
The Word for inspiration:
Psalm 123:1-4 (HCSB)
1 I lift my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven. 2 Like a servant’s eyes on his master’s hand, like a servant girl’s eyes on her mistress’s hand, so our eyes are on the Lord our God until He shows us favor. 3 Show us favor, Lord, show us favor, for we’ve had more than enough contempt. 4 We’ve had more than enough scorn from the arrogant [and] contempt from the proud.
My observation:
As we travel on the journey that leads us up the Kings Highway, we often run into the Devil’s crowd going the other way. It takes discipline, but the key is to keep your focus off the crowd going the wrong way, and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus who will lead you the right way.
Life is not easy, and even God’s most faithful servants encounter problems along life’s highway to heaven. Consider what Job went through.
Job 23:1-3 (HCSB)
1 Then Job answered: 2 Today also my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning. 3 If only I knew how to find Him, so that I could go to His throne.
You might be in the place where Job was, but even in his hardest and darkest days, Job never gave up, and he never gave in to the enemy of his soul. The theme of our Psalm for today is an encouragement to look to the Lord. The life of Job shows us that even when we can’t see the Lord’s hand that he is always working.
Job 23:8-9 (HCSB)
8 If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot perceive Him. 9 When He is at work to the north, I cannot see Him; when He turns south, I cannot find Him.
You may not be able to see God with the eyes in your head, but you can know him and see him with your eyes of faith.
Job 23:10 (HCSB)
Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will emerge as pure gold.
The question then becomes, “So what?” The answer is to do what Job did. You may not be able to control the circumstances of your life neither the testing of your faith. However, you can fulfill the requirements of a servant. Notice how Job stayed obedient to the Word, and stayed in the Word.
Job 23:11-12 (HCSB)
11 My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept to His way and not turned aside. 12 I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily food.
My prayer:
Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that my heart will remain steadfast, and that I will never, by faith, lose sight of Jesus as I travel along life’s highway. Lord, I pray that you will keep me near the cross because my troubles fade when I am in the presence of my Savior.
My song:
Near the Cross (Click on link below to enjoy this old gospel hymn):