“O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; nor do I involve
myself in great matters, or in things too difficult for me.  Surely I have composed and quieted my soul;
like a weaned child rests against his mother, my soul is like a weaned child
within me.  O Israel, hope in the Lord
From this time forth and forever.” 
(Psalm 131:1-3)

Listen to the list of things
that take us in the wrong direction.  Too
proud, haughty eyes and being involved in things that are too deep to be able
to handle.  Stay away from these things
and quiet your soul.  Be composed, quiet
your soul and come before the Lord. 
These are the ways the Lord gives to 
prepare you to walk on the journey of faith with Him.  Come to the place where He can work on you.

Meditate upon this list and you see that these are the common issues we
all have.  We want to be more than we
are; but we are whom the Lord made us to be. 
Be guided by what the Lord has said is necessary.  Face your pride and walk humbly with the LORD.  Who are you that you can boast to anyone about
anything?  Be contrite and humble when
You come before the Lord; but also know that He hears and will listen to your
prayers.

Lord Jesus, You are the exemplar of the godly life.  All of these things listed You are.  You who are the King of kings became a servant.  Help me to follow Your example and live into the life to which You are calling me.  Guide me, O Lord, now and always to simply live the life You have given me knowing that only in You is there hope.  May I be found walking like You Jesus in this world.  Amen.   

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“O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is lovingkindness,
and with Him is abundant redemption.  And
He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” 
(Psalm 130:7-8)

It is so simple and we make it
so complex.  The world offers the same
thing over and over again; sin, death, and the devil.  The Lord frees us from this bondage so that
we may live differently.  He has promised
to redeem those who turn to Him.  So,
turn to Him.  This does not mean all will
be well in this world.  It means that all
will be well with your soul.  Come then
to the Lord and receive His abundant redemption.

Lord, You know that I am filled with the pablum of this world.  You know that I am selfish and want things as
I want them.  Guide me, O Lord, in the
way of truth that I would live into the redemption You have given me through
Christ.  Lift my soul up by Your word
that I may live according to Your truth. 
Teach me to love as You love that I may be in You and You in me.

Lord Jesus, You have come into the world for the sake of as many as would believe.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may grow in Your likeness.  I think Your Word says the same thing over and over, because I am doing the same thing over and over.  Release me from the traps of this age that I may do what is pleasing in the Father’s sight now and always.  Amen.

“I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His word do I
hope.  My soul waits for the Lord more
than the watchmen for the morning; indeed, more than the watchmen for the
morning.”  (Psalm 130:5-6)

Where is your hope?  Do you hope in the things of this world?  Are you distracted with all of the offerings
around you?  When all is stripped away,
where is your hope?  People learn those
things that interest them.  Does the Lord
interest you?  Do you spend time in the
Lord’s Word?  Do you meditate upon His
ways?  Do you spend time in prayer with
Him.  Wait upon the Lord humbly and He
will lift you up.

Lord, help me to see the many places where I am distracted by the cares
and worries of this world.  Help me to
not be guided by them, but by You alone. 
Lift me up into Your countenance that I may learn from You by, and in
the provision You have given me, through Your Word.  Help me to fall in love with Your Word and
with You that I may watch for You more than anything else.

Lord Jesus, You are the Word made flesh.  You have come to lead the way for all those who will follow.  Guide me Lord Jesus in the way You know I need to go.  Help me to not be hindered by the cares of this world, but to walk with You as You lead.  Teach me to be watchful and to anticipate the ways in which You will lead.  Show me the way to follow You all of my days and in all of my ways.  Amen.

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“If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?  But there is forgiveness with You, that You
may be feared.”  (Psalm 130:3-4)

Our standing with the Lord is
not based upon behavior, for who could tell the Lord they have not sinned?  Our hope is because the Lord forgives us our
iniquities and leads us in the way of righteousness.  Come then into the Lord’s presence and let
Him lead You in all of His ways.  Be
guided by hope and not by the aggravations of this world.  The Lord is kind and gracious, abounding in
steadfast love.

Lord, help me to confess my iniquities and not hide behind a wall of
pretense that I am a good person.  Lead
me ever deeper into truth.  You have
given the words of eternal life and all hope is found in You alone.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I
would walk with You all of the days of my life. 
May I humbly come before You always in confession, trusting in Your
grace alone for Your absolution, which is my salvation.

Lord Jesus, You are the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.  You came that our forgiveness would be made complete.  Lead me, Lord, in the way of confession that I may grow by Your grace in honesty and willingness to serve as You lead.  You are the way of life and in You is all truth found.  May I grow by the discipline You give and learn to become like You in all of Your ways.  Amen.

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“Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord.  Lord, hear my voice!  Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my
supplications.”  (Psalm 130:1-2)

We all reach places where we
look around and in despair, cry out, “O Lord, how long?”  The Lord is always near.  The Lord knows what you are going to ask
before you ask it.  Open your ears, take
your eyes off of yourself and listen, for the Word of the Lord has been spoken.  You are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses.  You are constantly in the presence of the
Lord.  He who knows You is here with you.

Lord, let me hear as You speak. 
Bring to remembrance all of Your promises and the words of comfort.  Guide me into the life to which You have
called me knowing that they first hated You, and so they will hate me.  Teach me to listen that I may hear as You
speak.  Guide me into the way of life
which You have demonstrated in the sight of every people.  Help me to live according to Your will.

Lord Jesus, without You I would
perish.  You have given the words for
eternal life.  You are that Word.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, in the way of life that
I may now and forever grow into Your likeness. 
Help me to hear and obey that I may not stumble or fall.  You know the way I need to go to grow and do
what is pleasing in the Father’s sight. 
Help me, Lord Jesus, this day amidst all adversity.  Amen.

“May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward; let them be
like grass upon the housetops, which withers before it grows up; with which the
reaper does not fill his hand, or the binder of sheaves his bosom; nor do those
who pass by say, “The blessing of the Lord be upon you; we bless you in the
name of the Lord.”  (Psalm 129:5-8)

The world hates those who are
faithful.  The Lord teaches us to love
all, even those who hate us.  Do not
spend your time thinking of those who hate you, but dwell upon the goodness of
the Lord.  He will take care of all, even
those who hate.  Leave that to the
Lord.  Be one who blesses others as you
have been blessed.  Love, and do not hate
them. Seek the will of the Lord who redeems you and do good.

Lord, I do get caught up in the way of this world and its constant
hatred.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of
truth.  Guide me away from my feelings
and into the place of knowing that You, O Lord, are always good and that all
things are now and forever in Your hands. 
Show me how to live each day in Your presence, doing what is pleasing in
Your sight.

Lord Jesus, apart from You and the grace You give, it would be impossible.  Lead me this day, O Lord, to walk humbly with You as You lead.  Guide me away from those things which cause me to stumble that I may now and always abide with You and You with me.  May I be led by Your Spirit throughout this day, being the blessing You intend me to be.  Amen.

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“The plowers plowed upon my back; they lengthened their furrows.”  The Lord is righteous; He has cut in two the
cords of the wicked.”  (Psalm 129:3-4)

The wicked of this world seek
their gain at the expense of others.  You
have been called to walk in the ways of the Lord.  Do what is right and live in harmony with
your neighbor.  Do not interfere in his
or her life, nor instigate trouble.  The
Lord is righteous and calls those who walk with Him to learn
righteousness.  Be guided by His presence
and know that He gives hope and a Future.

Lord, lead me through all of the difficulties of this age; for things
are often not as they first appear. 
Guide me, O Lord, to see in Your word the wisdom You give that I may now
and always walk according to Your goodness. 
Keep me from stumbling over the schemes of the wicked and let me not
emulate their ways.  Show me the way to
go that I would walk aright in Your sight and live according to Your will.

Lord Jesus, You know how difficult this age can be.  You walked through the traps of those who eventually cornered You and had You crucified.  But this was according to the Father’s will.  Lead me in Your ways that I may learn from You how to live in this age while preparing to be in Your presence forever.  May I be found in You my Lord, walking humbly in the Father’s presence.  Amen.

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“Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up,” let Israel now
say, “Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up; yet they have not
prevailed against me.”  (Psalm 129:1-2)

What is persecution?  Is it not hindering you from walking humbly
with the Lord?  Sometimes we make thing
bigger which are really smaller.  Walk
with the Lord and you will see the blessing upon your children’s children.  Do not be waylaid by the wicked, but come to
know the Lord and commune with Him, and He with you.  He has come to give His peace to the
faithful.

Lord, I hear these things and I have taken in Your Word.  But the world wants me to walk in another
way.  Lead me away from all that is wrong
in this world and help me to practice what is good, right and salutary.  Guide me according to Your goodness to live
the life You have given to all those who are Yours.  Let me not fear the persecution of this
world, but walk through it to You.

Lord Jesus, You promised that we would be persecuted for Your name’s sake.  You said they would hate us because they first hated You.  Let me understand this and then continue, no matter what, to seek faithfulness.  Let me see it that I may know what some of the hindrances are.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way You would have me go.  Let me not falter, but always follow You faithfully, my Lord and Savior.  Amen.

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“The Lord bless you from Zion, and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.  Indeed, may you see your children’s children.  Peace be upon Israel!”  (Psalm 128:5-6)

There are many kinds of blessings.  This one transcends time.  It speaks of being blessed as one who is in the Lord forever.  It speaks of being blessed in your daily life.  It speaks of being blessed with a good and long life in this age.  It is asking the Lord to shower His blessing upon you.  Rejoice that the Lord gives such good gifts and cares for His children.  Learn how good the Lord is!

Lord, You have provided all that is needed for all living things from the beginning.  You provide food for all the creatures in due season.  Let me look to You and live in the joy You give knowing that in You is all hope and an eternal future.  Lead me Lord to know Your goodness and taste the provision of Your blessings.  Help me see these things always and clearly.

Come Holy Spirit and open my eyes to see and my ears to hear.  The world focuses upon all that is evil.  You have shared with me goodness and mercy.  Help me see these things that I would share the goodness and mercy You have given me with others.  Guide me ever deeper in the blessings which are mine because of the gift of faith You have given me and the grace which saves me.  Amen.

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“Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house, your
children like olive plants around your table. 
Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.”  (Psalm 128:3-4)

The Lord has a purpose for all
situations.  To be blessed is to grow in
the way of the Lord.  Walk in His
provision and know the goodness He gives to those who love Him.  The one who fears the Lord seeks to walk in
all of His ways.  The one who loves the
Lord listens to and obeys Him.  Come into
the Lord’s presence and receive the blessing He has for those who follow Him in
all of His ways.

Lord, help me to see through all of the ideas that are out there that
do not lead me in the way of faithfulness. 
Help me to learn how to be faithful and how to be blessed.  Guide me in all of Your ways that I may learn
how to love as You love.  Teach me to
live as You created me to live that I would now and forever be guided by Your
goodness and mercy.  Lead me more fully
into grace.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead those who follow into everlasting life.  Guide me this day according to Your goodness that I would walk by Your grace in the way of righteousness.  Help me to see the obstacles to walking by faith that I may learn from You how to be faithful.  Lead me, Lord Jesus, for You alone know all that I need this day to walk in the Father’s blessing.  Amen.

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