October 10 Daily Rhythms

Morning
Psalm 21:8 – 13   

Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those who hate you. You will make them as a blazing oven when you appear. The LORD will swallow them up in his wrath and fire will consume them. You will destroy their descendants from the earth, and their offspring from among the children of man. Though they plan evil against you, though they devise mischief, they will not succeed. For you will put them to flight; you will aim at their faces with your bows. exalted, O LORD, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.

We will sing and praise your power. It is often enough that we speak of the love of God, but those of us who live and breath on the earth know that there is wickedness and evil among us. It is a comfort to remember that those who oppose the Lord will have their day. The sexual predators, those who seek their own glory above all else, those who are self centered and wicked. Let us rest in the knowledge that God destroys, even while we turn over those parts of ourselves that need to be destroyed as well.

Afternoon
Psalm 22:1-5

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

What do you struggle with that seems unrelenting? Is there a sin that plagues you? A weakness or frailty that you seem to not be able to find relief from? This Psalm is generally considered to be a “messianic psalm” a Psalm that looks forward to Christ and his suffering. As you struggle, know that Christ has shared in your suffering.

Evening
Psalm 22:6-11

But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.

When Jesus faced his own death on the cross, his hope was in God alone. There is nowhere else that any of us can find this kind of ultimate hope. He was faithful to Christ, he will be faithful to you. Pray that God will strengthen your faith in the midst of your doubt.