21 Days of Prayer
Key Verse:
“My feet stand on level ground;
in the great congregation I will praise the Lord.” Psalm 26:12
Prompt:
This week's focus: Grow in Grace
Sin separated all of humankind from God’s presence. When traversing in our own might, there is no speck of “goodness” in all of humankind that is good enough to spare us from sin’s imminent death. There is only one path to a relationship with God – the cross. Today, thank God that there is level ground at the foot of the cross for ALL to surrender a life of sin in exchange for eternal dwelling with Him.
More:
Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.
"He said, she said." It's a phrase we've all heard, often tied to gossip or a story where the truth seems unclear. Maybe you've found yourself caught in the middle of this sort of drama. Maybe you've been the "he" or "she" in such a situation. Or, perhaps you've had things said about you that weren't true, stories that have spiraled out of control.
You're not alone. In fact, these kinds of situations have been happening since the Old Testament! Even David experienced this very thing. Psalm 26, he prays for vindication - to be free, cleared of blame and accusation. Many believe that David wrote this please as he was feeling from King Saul, whose jealousy and insecurity manifested itself as false accusations against David. We may not know the exact context of this passage, but we do know this: David is presenting his case to the only Judge who truly matters - God.
David's prayer reflects his story, his history, his actions, and his reputation. What stands out most is that David isn’t seeking the approval of others. Instead, he turns to his Heavenly Father for vindication and justice.
At one of the lowest points in my life, a friend shared a phrase that still resonates with me: “Control the controllables.” We can't control others. We can’t control what they say, do, or believe, but we can control our actions, our responses, and, most importantly, who we rely on. Like David, we can choose to rely on the One who never lets us down. The One who already vindicated us through the ultimate sacrifice on the cross. The One who always wants to hear from us, whether we’re having a good day or a bad one. The One who defines us regardless of what others say about us.
David concludes Psalm 26 with these words in verse 12: “My foot stands on level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the Lord.” David knows his foundation. It is level and unshaking. And he reminds us that when life feels like it’s spinning out of control, the best thing we can do is praise God and focus on Him!
Take two minutes to reflect in silence.
Reflection:
- Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.
- SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
- OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises?
- APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you?
- PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.