“Remember this, O Lord, that the enemy has reviled, and a foolish people has spurned Your name. Do not deliver the soul of Your turtledove to the wild beast; do not forget the life of Your afflicted forever.” (Psalm 74:18-19)

Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, strength, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. This is the summation of the whole of the law. God has established this from the beginning and there are those who continue in rebellion to do otherwise. Do not be deceived; those who are the enemies of the Lord will suffer the affliction of their rebellion which they now impose upon the faithful.

Lord, my sense of justice is immediate and I do not see at times that Your hand will not forever stay judgement against those who mock You. Guide me away from this kind of thinking to cherish what You have given and live into the life which You have established to be lived in the goodness of Your mercy and grace. Lead me, O Lord, to walk according to Your ways.

Lord Jesus, You have come not to judge, for that is already done, but to lead those who will be faithful into an abundant life of living into the purpose for which You have called us all. Lead me, O Lord, this day into Your goodness that I would do those things which are pleasing to the Father and in accordance with the simple truth that has been revealed through You. Amen.

“Yours is the day, Yours also is the night; You have prepared the light and the sun. You have established all the boundaries of the earth; You have made summer and winter.” (Psalm 74:16-17)

God invented time. It is something He made into which He has poured what we call the creation. This, along with all things, is in the hands of the Lord. Nothing apart from Him can happen; for He watches over all things that He has made. Abide in the Lord and see that His hand is upon all things. Know that He who made You has plans for You and knows what You need before You ask.

Lord God, I come from the place at the center of myself and cannot see clearly. I do not understand all of the things of this world, but react to what happens around me. You have caused the seasons of the world and the seasons of my life. Lead me, O Lord, according to Your goodness that I would walk with You all the days of my life. Show me Your presence daily.

Lord Christ, Savior who has come to lead all who look to You for solace, guidance and hope, help me now and always to see in You the glory You have throughout my life and for Your purpose. Help me overcome the doubts and fears that debilitate me that I would forever walk in the light You have shown to all generations. May I be faithful in the call You give me this day. Amen.

“You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness. You broke open springs and torrents; You dried up ever-flowing streams.” (Psalm 74:14-15)

The Lord God created all things and all things are in His control and under His power. Who can come against the Lord? Many try, but they will not prevail. Trust in the Lord of all creation and know that, now and always, all things are in His hands. He who holds the universe together and knows when a bird falls from the sky knows your needs and answers every prayer.

Lord, I sometimes feel lost amidst all the things of this world. All around me everyday things are happening that I do not understand. Guide me, O Lord, to see in You the hope for all and the truth of Your sovereignty. Guide me away from living in confusion and fear into wisdom by Your grace to know that You alone are God and there is none other who is able to hold all things together.

Lord Jesus, You are the answer for all who wonder,  for all who are afraid,  for all who look for meaning. You have come to show us the love of the Father that all may turn to You and be reconciled. Guide me this day to walk humbly with You, the One through all things have their being. Lead me now and always in the way of salvation which You have shown for all who believe.  Amen.

“Yet God is my king from of old, who works deeds of deliverance in the midst of the earth. You divided the sea by Your strength; You broke the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.” (Psalm 74:12-13)

Everything that exists has come from the hand of God. Apart from Him is nothing and all that is, is in His hands. Guide me, O Lord, that I may know Your goodness always and live in Your grace. You are the One through whom all things have their being. Lead me, Lord, in the way You would have me go that I may walk in Your light during this life You gave.

Adversity comes, but it too passes. One day will be the final day of adversity and the Lord will bring upon the earth its judgement. Between now and then, You who created all things unfold Your purpose for the sake of those who love You. You are the King and those who know Your voice understand that You are the King of kings. It is You who purposes all things for Your glory.

Lord Christ, You have revealed the glory of salvation that we may see that all works to the glory of the Father. Guide me, Lord Jesus, to walk humbly in the way You have instructed that I may forever hold fast to the goodness You give by grace. Help me now and always to look to You, knowing that all things are in the Father’s hand and that it will work together for good because of the love You have poured upon us. Amen.

“How long, O God, will the adversary revile, and the enemy spurn Your name forever? Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? From within Your bosom, destroy them!” (Psalm 74:10-11)

Each generation has those moments in which they cry out, “How long O Lord?” There are wicked in the world, but there are those yet unborn whom the Lord desires to be in His kingdom and so for a short time, the Lord allows the wheat and chaff to be mixed together. The Lord is fulfilling His purpose and it will come to pass according to His will. Look to the Lord, for He is good.

Lord, I encounter injustice and I want retribution to be meted out. Guide me, O Lord, to know that in You is hope and a future; for You alone know all things and all are in Your sight. Those who reject You have their moment in this world and then what? You offer to those who love You life and life everlasting. Guide me, O Lord, in Your ways that I may abide in You now and forever.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead all who come to You through the storms of this life. Lead me, Lord, that I may walk in Your ways and learn from You gentleness, humility and faithfulness, abounding in the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Justice belongs to the Father, so guide me by Your Spirit away from my selfish actions to be one who does as You have instructed and allows the light in me to shine that others may know that You are the LORD. Amen.

“They said in their heart, “Let us completely subdue them.” They have burned all the meeting places of God in the land. We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet, nor is there any among us who knows how long.” (Psalm 74:8-9)

The world has tried over and over again to be rid of those who walk humbly in the way of the Lord. They rid themselves of the prophets and then the things that have been lifted up to remind the people of the Lord. Yet, through it all, here you are, reading of the Lord and His goodness. God is forever and no one and nothing can overcome the truth, for He is truth and He is forever.

Lord, let me see the cycle that I may step out of it and realize that there truly is nothing new under the sun. Those who hate You toil in vain. They think they are doing something new. Lead me to see that You are the hope of every generation and that in You is life and liberty amidst the struggles that sin causes in this world.

Lord Jesus, apart from You there is no hope, but in You is the hope of the ages. You have come to lift as many as believe out of the pit of despair and onto the path of eternal life. Guide me, O Lord, in the way You would have me walk this day and keep me on the narrow way of Your salvation. Lift my spirit and let my voice speak of You and the truth You have delivered once for all. Amen.

‘It seems as if one had lifted up His axe in a forest of trees. And now all its carved work they smash with hatchet and hammers. They have burned Your sanctuary to the ground; They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name.” (Psalm 74:5-7)

The way of the world sadly repeats itself. Build up, create beautiful things, carve up what God created and then destroy everything. And the people go along. Come into the Lord’s courts and see both the madness of the world and the calm and unchanging beauty of what the Lord has made. Contrast them for yourself and then wonder at the insanity of sin and the destruction it brings.

Lord, free me from the insane cycle of this world to be free to be in You now and always. Help me by lifting me out of the pit to first see truth and then to walk in Your ways. Change my heart and place in it respect for all that You have made and a willingness to hold fast to that which never changes. Guide me, Lord, in Your ways to see things through Your eyes and to love what You have made.

Lord Jesus, You know the crazy ways in which people respond to things. You have seen it over and over again throughout the ages. You saw it amongst those whom You served while in Your earthly ministry. Guide me, O Lord, to hold fast to what You teach, to walk humbly with You amidst all the turmoil of this world and to know that Your ways are everlasting and true. Amen.

“Turn Your footsteps toward the perpetual ruins; the enemy has damaged everything within the sanctuary. Your adversaries have roared in the midst of Your meeting place; they have set up their own standards for signs.” (Psalm 74:3-4)

The world hates God and the battle is constant. The wicked one wants God’s people scattered and the things of the Lord forever banished. It has been this way since the Fall. The wicked set up competing and mocking signs in contradiction to the ways of the Lord, which lead people away from Him and the truth. Do not be deceived; the Lord is not mocked. He is God.

Lord, I think the times I experience are unique, but they are not. This has been going on from the beginning. Clear my eyes to see the simple truth of Your promises and the hope that You give that I may walk in Your ways. Lead me, O Lord, to become faithful to the call of grace You have given me. Grant boldness that I may stand firm in opposition to the lies, instead living in the truth You have proclaimed from the beginning.

Lord Jesus, You came and fulfilled the law and the word of the prophets. You teach us to walk humbly with You in every time and in all places. Guide me O Lord in the way You would have me go and grant me the encouragement to hold fast amidst the turmoil of this world. Help me now and always to be one of Your lights shining in the darkness of this world for all to see that I may reflect Your glory to them . Amen.

“O God, why have You rejected us forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?  Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, which You have redeemed to be the tribe of Your inheritance; and this Mount Zion, where You have dwelt.” (Psalm 74:1-2)

It seems to us at times that God is far off when things go bad in the world. Is it God who is afar or us in the midst of a flare up of rebellion against His ways? Everything is sustained by the Lord and He is not far off; but we feel what we feel and we distance ourselves when our lives are oppressed and in difficulty. Walk with the Lord and know that He is always present and His promises are sure.

Lord, the world sometime seems crazier than it normally is. Sometimes my life goes through deep valleys and I feel abandoned. Guide my heart to know that You are always present and that You are there to lead Your people into Zion. Lift up my heart and guide me to live in the hope You give.

Lord Jesus, You came in the midst of turmoil to share the truth of life and liberty granted through grace. It is not an immediate lifting up from the troubles of this world, but Your promise of redemption and the truth of the Holy Spirit that You are there to guide and lead all who trust in You. Lead me, Lord Jesus, in the way You have established that I may learn to walk faithfully with You.  Amen.

“For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You. But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works.” (Psalm 73:27-28)

The Lord is as close to you as anything you might imagine. No, more, for He is the core of your being. Apart from Him nothing exists. In Him is life and light, for He is the One who causes all things to be. The Lord is the refuge for all, in all and through all. Apart from Him, wherein the wicked dwell, there is nothingness. Of the Lord is everything. Come to the Lord and know life.

Lord, I struggle in this world to find meaning. Yet here You are amidst the difficulties I face and in You is all meaning. Guide my heart away from empty pursuits and lead me into Your never-failing love that You have granted me through Christ my Savior. Guide me to see in You the hope of all ages and to live into the life to which You have called me by grace through faith.

Lord Jesus, You said clearly that You are the way, truth and life and that the way to the Father is through You. It is so simple, but I often make it so difficult. Guide me, O Lord, to live into the life to which You have called me that I may faithfully become whom You are creating me to be. You are my strength and my refuge. Let me not rely on anything but what You give, to the Father’s glory. Amen.