21 Days of Prayer
Key Verse:
Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me. Psalm 13:3-6
Prompt:
This week's focus: Live by Faith
Today, praise God for your salvation! Thank Him for His goodness and unfailing love! It is because of Him that we can live a life of faith.
Ask God to help you trust Him in every season. Ask Him to use you today to help others see God’s unfailing love so they can place their trust in Him for all eternity.
More:
Head: Know God's Word | Heart: Love God | Hands: Follow God's Way
Read Psalms 12-13
Head
Both Psalms 12 and 13 talk about our help coming from God. Just like in the passages we read yesterday, David is asking God why evil seems to be winning. David is asking God why the world is filled with evil words, spoken by people who lie and cheat. David wonders why doing the right thing seems like the least acceptable way to live in the eyes of the world. David then remembers that God’s words are always pure and honest – that the words of the Lord will be victorious over all the slander and lies that the enemy produces. He remembers that God is the only One who is holy and righteous. In Psalm 13, David once again feels as if God isn’t there to rescue him from evil. He feels alone in his suffering. But he remembers that his trust is in God! Because of his trust in God, he knows that his prayers will be answered, and God will give him protection and hope to make it through the hard times. When David remembers it is God who will conquer his enemies, he sings out with praise!
Heart
I am sure you have heard the saying “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” We know that this saying isn’t true. Words are powerful and can hurt very deeply. David was upset about people’s hurtful words in Psalm 12. In Psalm 13, David was crying out that evil seemed to be everywhere, and he couldn’t see God anywhere. Both chapters end with him remembering who God is – honest, victorious, helpful, and praiseworthy. God’s way will always win, we just need to be faithful in the waiting.
Psalm 46:1 says “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
God is always there for us in times of trouble. Whether we’ve been hurt by someone’s words, are experiencing difficulties, or just feel alone – God is by our side! We can trust that His ways are best. During trials or hard times, we can grow closer to the Lord and strengthen our faith.
Hands
We must spend time praying and reading the Bible to keep our eyes on God and His perfect words in our hearts.
James 1:19 says, “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”
What does God want us to do? Listen. We need to watch how we talk to others and use our words. When we know God’s word, we can speak truth to others. That’s why learning Bible verses is so important. If we put God’s pure and honest words in our hearts, then that is what will be the first out of our mouths. Words for lifting people up, not tearing them down.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, help us to remember that You are our refuge. You will protect us and provide for us. We praise You for only using true, pure words - words that help encourage and inspire us to be more like You. Help us to listen to You and trust that You are our help in times of trouble. Give us opportunities to use our words to point others back to You. We love you! In Jesus’ name, Amen.