Sept 27 Daily Rhythyms

Morning
Psalm 10:1-11

Why, O LORD, do you stand far away?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor;
let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised.

For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul,
and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD.
In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him;
all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
His ways prosper at all times;
your judgments are on high, out of his sight;
as for all his foes, he puffs at them.
He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved;
throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.”
His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression;
under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.
He sits in ambush in the villages;
in hiding places he murders the innocent.
His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;
he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket;
he lurks that he may seize the poor;
he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net.
The helpless are crushed, sink down,
and fall by his might.
He says in his heart, “God has forgotten,
he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”

You may not sit in ambush in villages, but consider your own heart this morning. Ask yourself, sincerely – where do you seek evil? If you say “nowhere” look closer. What makes you angry? What makes you uncomfortable? How do you respond? Ask the Lord to reveal just a little bit of your sin to you thins morning. Then confess it to God and thank him that he forgives.

Afternoon
Psalm 10:12-18
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand;
forget not the afflicted.
Why does the wicked renounce God
and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”?
But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation,
that you may take it into your hands;
to you the helpless commits himself;
you have been the helper of the fatherless.
Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer;
call his wickedness to account till you find none.

The LORD is king forever and ever;
the nations perish from his land.
O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

Whatever else is going on in your day. Whatever else you are struggling with today. Know this: God is King Forever and Ever. God is a good king who will ultimately bring Justice to the earth. Are you on the side of justice? do you admit that you struggle to find truth? are you on the side of yourself? Do you fight tooth and nail for your beliefs? God is with one and against the other. The humble will be exalted. Pray for a proper perspective of yourself within the Kingdom of God.

Evening
Psalm 11

In the LORD I take refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
“Flee like a bird to your mountain,
for behold, the wicked bend the bow;
they have fitted their arrow to the string
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
if the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”

The LORD is in his holy temple;
the LORD’s throne is in heaven;
his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
The LORD tests the righteous,
but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
Let him rain coals on the wicked;
fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
For the LORD is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face.

As you rest tonight, remember this: in Christ you are counted righteous. You shall behold his face. Sleep well knowing that because of the work of Christ alone, you are holy in his sight.