Day 91: Mark 13:14-37 & Psalm 92 - How Can We Know His Return is Near without Knowing the Day or Hour?

Today's Reading: Mark 13:14-37 & Psalm 92

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How Can We Know His Return is Near without Knowing the Day or Hour?

But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven,nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. - Mark 13:32-33, ESV

First of all, we need to acknowledge that today's passage (along with Matthew 24 & Luke 21) is probably the most difficult teaching of Jesus to understand properly. If you read today's passage and you're wondering, "What is the Abomination of Desolation," this might be helpful: What is the "Abomination of Desolation"? by Dan Doriani. You may also find this commentary helpful. 

Today, I want to focus on one particular question: How can we be sensitive to the signs that the coming of Jesus is near and yet not know the day nor the hour? 

Jesus tells us in verse 28 to learn the lesson of the fig tree. By this, Jesus means that we should be discerning enough to know when He is near. Or are His words limited to those in His generation? I do think the immediate context of Jesus' words in that section of this discourse probably applies best to His disciples and their generation. (see v. 30) Thus, I think the lesson of the fig tree was most directly applicable to the coming judgement of AD 70, when the Temple and City of Jerusalem were destroyed.

However, the broader lesson still applies to us: God wants us to be discerning and understand the times in which we live. We need to be attuned to the spiritual climate of our day and always aware of the possibility of coming judgment. We need to always be aware of the soon return of Jesus. When is "soon"?

Well, in speaking more directly to us beyond the context of AD 70, Jesus says in verses 32-33: "concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven,nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come." If we understand what Jesus is saying here, we can't get overly focused on exactly when He will return, In other words, "soon" means always ready and always alert.

Can we know the exact time of Jesus' coming? No! Can we be ready? By His grace, yes! How? Read this post on Matthew 24:29-51 for more on that question. Jesus is coming soon! 

Prayer Based on Psalm 92:

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

    to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;

to declare Your steadfast love in the morning,

    and Your faithfulness by night,

Let me rise from my bed in the morning with Your praise on my lips,

   and let me lay down at night with a song of thanksgiving in my heart!

For You, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;

    at the works of Your hands I sing for joy.

How great are Your works, O Lord!

    Your thoughts are very deep!

The stupid man cannot know;

    the fool cannot understand this:

that though the wicked sprout like grass

    and all evildoers flourish,

they are doomed to destruction forever;

     but You, O Lord, are on high forever.

For behold, Your enemies, O Lord,

    for behold, Your enemies shall perish;

    all evildoers shall be scattered.

But You have exalted the Lord Jesus, my horn of salvation;

    You have poured over me fresh oil.

My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;

    my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants

    the devil who tempts, taunts and accuses me,

    the word that entices and ensnares me,

    me flesh that seeks to enslave me.

All were overthrown at the cross and in the resurrection.

The righteous flourish like the palm tree

    and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

They are planted in the house of the Lord;

    they flourish in the courts of our God.

They still bear fruit in old age;

    they are ever full of sap and green,

to declare that the Lord is upright;

    He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

Day 90: Mark 13:1-13 & Psalm 91 - How Can We Be Ready for Persecution?

Today's Reading: Mark 13:1-13 & Psalm 91

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How Can We Be Ready for Persecution?

"But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them." - Mark 13:9

Jesus clearly taught His followers to expect persecution. Persecution comes in different forms, from teasing and labeling to prison and death. The disciples themselves who heard this teaching from Jesus would face intense persecution themselves. Most of the 12 disciples of Jesus died for their testimony, and John ended up exiled to the Island of Patmos. They were ready for what was coming. Are we? How can we be?

1. Don't be led astray by false Christs and false Gospels. Jesus warned us that many would come claiming to be the Savior. Over the centuries, many false prophets and many false Christs have arisen, including Joseph Smith and Brigham Young (Mormonism), Charles Taze Russell (Jehovah's Witnesses), Sun Myong Moon (Unification Church), David Koresh (Branch Davidians) and many others. But Christians are also led astray by false Gospels promising a salvation that Jesus never promised, such a health and wealth or the power to shape reality by your words. Others have sought to undermine confidence in Scripture and biblical truth. The first step to being ready for persecution is not to be led astray.

2. Be on your guard. If we're expecting persecution, we won't be alarms or troubled when it comes. One key way to be on our guard, according to Scripture, is to have the full armor of God in place (Eph. 6:10-20). This means to know who we are in Christ and to make full use of the Gospel benefits He gives - truth, righteousness, peace, salvation, faith and the word of God. 

3. Spread the Gospel. Jesus said that the Gospel would be proclaimed throughout all the earth before He would return and end all evil. One of the most stinging indictments against the church is that Jesus has been gone for almost 2,000 years and we still have not taken to the Gospel to every people group on the earth. We need to take the Gospel to the nations and to our neighbors, as part of standing firm in Christ. It also helps us get ready for persecution because we know better why we're being persecuted and why it's worth it to suffer for Christ.

4. Trust in the Holy Spirit. "And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit." Jesus is not telling us not to study Scripture or study apologetics, but He is telling us not to be anxious. We do not need to worry about how we're going to defend ourselves. God is our shield and our defender. We do not need to worry about how we will defend the Lord; He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and the King of kings and Lord of lords. We need to trust and be prepared to speak faithfully, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Persecution comes in some form or other to every faithful Christian. "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." - 1 Timothy 3:12, ESV. This is not cause to fear but reason to rejoice that we bear His name and are given the opportunity to share in His sufferings. But to be ready, we need to remember to stay faithful, not to be led astray, to be on our guard, to spread the Gospel and to trust in the Holy Spirit.

Prayer Based on Psalm 91:

Heavenly Father, by Your grace, You are my shelter and I dwell in the shadow of Your wings. You keep me and guard me in all of my ways. Your son, Jesus, trusted in You and You delivered Him from the snare of death. Because I belong to Jesus, I, too, am secure in Your loving care for me. 

Father, we are Your people and we live in a hostile world. We live in a land where Satan prowls and people fall prey to His attacks daily. Keep us safe in Your hands. Guide us by Your Holy Spirit. Glorify Your name and exalt Your Son in our churches, in our worship, in our families and in our lives. Deliver us and protect us, for we love You and hold fast to Your name.

In Jesus' precious name, Amen!    

Day 89: Mark 12:28-44 & Psalm 90 - How Can our Bible Reading Help Us Develop a More Biblical Worldview?

Today's Reading: Mark 12:28-44 & Psalm 90

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How Can our Bible Reading Help Us Develop a More Biblical Worldview?

And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” - Mark 12:38-40, ESV

One of the benefits of reading through whole sections of the Bible, and not just picking out isolated verses, is that we can get a better understanding of the connections between different verses, teachings and ideas that we had thought of a separate. In joining these pieces together into an integrated whole, we begin to develop a more complete biblical worldview.

One way we can learn to stitch together these pieces as we read is by asking questions as we go and looking for the answers. As we ask questions and understand the answers, we come to think as God thinks and wants us to think. For example, from today's passage: 

• Why are loving God and loving others the most important commandments? 
• Why was this scribe "not far from the kingdom of God"? What was he still missing? 
• What is hypocrisy and how is it related to God's most important commandments? 
• What does real sincerity in loving God look like? 

In today's passage, we continue to see some of Jesus' final public interactions with religious leaders in Jerusalem before His crucifixion. The leaders have been asking Him questions to test Him, and He had passed every test. Now a final questions comes from a scribe. He asks, "Which commandment is the most important of all?" This is a much more important and sincere question than the previous ones about taxes and marriage in the resurrection. 

Jesus answers this scribe clearly and perfectly, of course. He says that loving God with all that we are and loving our neighbor as ourselves are the most important commandments. The scribe agrees sincerely with Jesus, and Jesus tells him he is not far from the kingdom of God.

Why are these commandments most important? Because God is love and is the most worthy object of our love and devotion. All people are made in the image of God equally and we are called to love others as ourselves.

Why was this scribe "not far from the kingdom of God"? Well, understanding what God requires gets you close to the kingdom of God, but only knowing God's Son gets you into the kingdom. This scribe needs who Jesus really is, which is why Jesus tells him that the Messiah is greater than just being the son of David.

What is hypocrisy and how is it related to God's most important commandments? Jesus condemns the scribes for their religious hypocrisy because they use religion as a tool for self-promotion and self-exaltation. This is the opposite of loving God; they use God to exalt themselves. Their hypocritical religion led to the abuse and exploitation of their neighbors and not love. 

What does real sincerity in loving God look like? Finally, Jesus gives His disciples a clear illustration of what sincere devotion to God looks like. A poor widow comes into the Temple to give her last two copper coins to God and Jesus makes sure His disciples see and understand her devotion. Loving God leads to a full trust in Him, even to our last penny.

By asking questions and seeing more clearly the flow of this passage, we can see that Jesus is teaching us what it looks like to be His disciple. We can understand the priority of love, the person of Christ, the danger of hypocrisy and the marks of true faith. 

Prayer Based on Psalm 90:

Lord, You have been our dwelling place
    in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
    or ever You had formed the earth and the world,
    from everlasting to everlasting You are God.

You return man to dust
    and say, “Return, O children of man!"
For a thousand years in Your sight
    are but as yesterday when it is past,
    or as a watch in the night.

You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
    like grass that is renewed in the morning:
in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
    in the evening it fades and withers.

Because of our sins, we are brought to an end by Your anger;
    by Your wrath we are dismayed.
You have set our iniquities before you,
    our secret sins in the light of Your presence,
    for nothing is hidden from You.

In this fallen world, all our days pass away under Your wrath;
    we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
The years of our life are seventy,
   or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
    they are soon gone, and we fly away.

Who considers the power of Your anger,
    and Your wrath according to the fear of you?
So teach us to number our days
    that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Return, O Lord! How long?
    Have pity on Your servants!
Satisfy us in the morning with Your steadfast love,
    that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Lord please make us glad for as many days as You have afflicted us,
    and for as many years as we have seen evil.
Let your work be shown to Your servants,
    and your glorious power to their children.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
    and establish the work of our hands upon us;

    yes, establish the work of our hands!

Day 88: Mark 12:1-27 & Psalm 89 - Why is Flattery So Dangerous? How Should We Respond to It?

Today's reading: Mark 12:1-27 & Psalm 89

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Why is Flattery So Dangerous? How Should We Respond to It?

And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” - Mark 12:13-14, ESV

In Pilgrim's Progress, the Shepherds on the Delectable Mountains give Christian and Hopeful two pieces of advice, "Beware the flatterer!" and "Do not sleep on the Enchanted Ground!" Sadly, these two pilgrims forget this advice when confronted by the flatterer and they end up ensnared in a trap. 

In today's passage, some Pharisees and Herodians are trying to snare Jesus in a trap and they bait their trap with flattery. If these men really believed that Jesus truly taught the way of God, they would sit at His feet to listen and learn and not come to set a trap for Him. Jesus was too wise for them, of course, and we'll take a look at His response in a minute.

Flattery is something we all need to beware. We are so quick to listen to flattery because of our pride and insecurity. We want people to like us and we're not sure if they do or not, so flattery has a real attraction and snare for us. Jesus was humble and secure, so flattery was not a baited trap for Him. People who flatter are usually trying to get something from us or trap us. We walk into their clutches because we want to keep their good opinion.

Jesus responded to this flattery as we all should: He avoided the trap by speaking the truth clearly and carefully. The Pharisees knew that if Jesus advocated paying taxes to Rome, it would get Him in trouble with the people, who resented Roman taxes. The Herodians knew that is Jesus told the people not to pay their taxes, this would get Him in trouble with the Romans. It seemed clear that Jesus would be in trouble whichever answer He gave.

Jesus stepped back from the immediate question to clarify the context. The Romans coined and issued their own currency. They asked for payment back from what they had distributed. Jesus knew that issues of politics and taxation were not of direct importance to the kingdom of God. This is why He said, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."   

Ultimately, of course, all things belong to God. God is the Lord and Ruler of all things. This means that He establishes rulers and overthrows those same rulers. But Jesus would not be trapped in a distraction, nor did He want His kingdom identified with Rome or with the anti-Roman forces. His reign is so much bigger than our petty political squabbles. True wisdom comes for us when we follow after Him and learn to think and see the world as He does. 

Prayer Based on Psalm 89:

I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;

    with my mouth I will make known Your faithfulness to all generations.

For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever;

    in the heavens You will establish Your faithfulness.”

You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one;

    I have sworn to David my servant:

‘I will establish your offspring forever,

    and build your throne for all generations.’”

You have kept and fulfilled all of Your covenant promises in Christ,

   the Great Son of David who lives and ruled forever! 

Let the heavens praise Your wonders, O Lord,

    Your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!

For who in the skies can be compared You, O Lord?

    Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord,

a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones,

    and awesome above all who are around You?

O Lord God of hosts,

    who is mighty as You are, O Lord,

    with Your faithfulness all around You?

You rule the raging of the sea;

    when its waves rise, You still them.

The heavens are Yours; the earth also is Yours;

    the world and all that is in it, You have founded them.

The north and the south, You have created them;

    Tabor and Hermon joyously praise Your name.

You have a mighty arm;

    strong is your hand, high Your right hand,

    Jesus our Savior and Lord, Your right hand forever!

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;

    steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.

Blessed are the people who who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,

who exult in the name of Jesus all the day

    and in Your righteousness are exalted.

For You are the glory of their strength;

    by Your favor our horn is exalted.

For our shield belongs to the Lord,

    our king to the Holy One of Israel.

But Your people are in trouble, O Lord,

    Persecuted and harassed by enemies and suffering shame and disgrace.

How long, O Lord? Will You hide yourself forever?

    How long will Your wrath burn like fire?

Remember how short our time is!

    For what brief lives on earth You have created all the children of man!

What man can live and never see death?

    Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol?

Only in Jesus is power over the grave!

Lord, where is your steadfast love of old,

    which by your faithfulness you swore to David?

Your have fulfilled the vows You made to David in Your Son.

Now, remember, O Lord, how Your servants are mocked,

    and how we bear the insults of all the many nations,

with which your enemies mock, O Lord,

    with which they mock the footsteps of your anointed.

Redeem and rescue, to the praise of Your name! 

Blessed be the Lord forever!

Amen and Amen.

Day 87: Mark 11:15-33 & Psalm 88 - How Has the House of Prayer for All Nations Become a Den of Robbers?

Today's Reading: Mark 11:15-33 & Psalm 88

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How Has the House of Prayer for All Nations Become a Den of Robbers? 

And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” - Mark 11:17, ESV

You've probably received one of those phishing scam e-mails from some African country promising to give you millions of dollars. What I hate most about some of these e-mails is that they begin with, "Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!" This version of the phishing scam plays on feelings of Christian brotherhood to project an air of trustworthiness. They are using the name of Jesus Christ to scam people out of money. 

But of course, they're not the only ones. In 1517, Martin Luther was outraged by the scamming of God's people to raise money for St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. This particular scam was the selling of indulgences by Johann Tetzel. For a sizable donation and some acts of penance, the Roman Catholic Church promised people relief from any temporal consequences for their sin. 

Sadly, people in all parts of the world have used the name of God and the worship of God as a tool for personal gain. The religious leaders who ran the Temple had money-changers and animal-sellers in the Court of the Gentiles exchanging people's currency for Temple coins and then selling them sacrificial animals for use in worship. The Temple was one of the wonders of the ancient world, and the Chief Priests enjoyed a wonderful income from this business.

Jesus made His own opinion on the issue of scamming religious worshipers very clear. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and drive the sellers of animals out of the Temple. Not only did these people make s nice profit, but their business crowded the Court of the Gentiles, which was the worship space set aside for non-Jews who wanted to come and pray to God and learn more about Him. No instruction and precious little prayer could happen in a place crowded with money-changers and animal-sellers. 

Jesus also cursed the fig tree as a symbol of His judgment against the Jewish leadership. See more here.    

So, it's easy to get outraged at African phishing scams and Roman Catholic indulgences and Jewish money-changers, but are we guilty of the same kinds of sins in our lives and our churches? Do we seek to grow large churches to advance our names and line our pockets? Do we provide hindrance for those who would come and learn more about Jesus by crowding Him out in exchange for lesser things? Any time we are self-serving in our church life or do anything to prevent people from seeing Jesus, we are in the wrong and we must repent. May the Lord give us the grace to examine our hearts and truly seek His honor and glory above all else.   

Prayer Based on Psalm 88:

O Lord, God of my salvation;
    I cry out day and night before you.
Let my prayer come before you;
    incline your ear to my cry!
For my soul is full of troubles,
    and my life seems to draw near to the grave.

Lord, I feel completely abandoned and cut off,
    without friends or help or hope.
I feel like You have rejected me and all of my friends have forsaken me.

Every day I call upon you, O Lord;
    I spread out my hands to you.
What will happen to me if You forsake me,
   If you allow my enemies to overtake me? 

But I, O Lord, cry to you;
    in the morning my prayer comes before you.
O Lord, why do you cast my soul away?
    Why do you hide your face from me?

Please come to my rescue and deliver me.
   Have mercy on me!

Day 86: Mark 11:1-14 & Psalm 87 - What is the Importance of the Triumphal Entry?

Today's Reading: Mark 11:1-14 & Psalm 87

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What is the Importance of the Triumphal Entry?

And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” - Mark 11:8-10, ESV

When God sent His Son into the world as the King and Savior of His people, He made sure it was announced. He sent the birth announcement by angels to a group of shepherds, keeping watch over their flocks by night. God's choice of shepherds was significant on a number of levels, including the fact that they were keepers of sheep and God was sending His Son as the Lamb of God, to take away the sin of the world.  

Now, approximately 33 years later, God's Son is entering into Jerusalem to accomplish the final and most vital stage of His mission. In just a few days, He would be betrayed and beaten and crucified. He would become our Savior as he took our sins upon Himself. This day was an important entry, one foretold in Scripture in Isaiah 52 & Zechariah 9:9. 

Just as God the Father made sure Jesus' entry into the world was announced by angels, so now He made sure that His Son's entry into Jerusalem was announced. This time, the announcing was done by the shouting of the crowd, who laid down their coats and spread out palm branches to proclaim the coming of their king.

Jesus was riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey, in exact fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9. The crowds shouted "Hosanna!" which means, "Save now!" They were asking for salvation from the Romans, but Jesus came to save them from their sins. They praised Jesus for bringing the kingdom of David, but He was actually coming to bring the kingdom of God. 

So, what about us? Do we shout the right Hosanna? Are we expecting the right kingdom? In other words, do we praise and welcome Jesus for the right reasons? It's very easy to shout Hosanna in praise to Jesus for saving us from the things we want to have taken out of our lives - suffering, sorrow, poverty, sickness, struggle - and not what we most need to have removed - sin. It is easy too ask Jesus to come and set up our own self-serving kingdom, but He comes only to set up the kingdom of God.

Thankfully, what Jesus brings is what we most need. We need to be saved from ourselves and only Jesus could do that! 

Prayer Based on Psalm 87:

Psalm 87 is a celebration of God's church, His holy city. Here are two great hymns based on the themes of Psalm 87:







Here's the prayer for Psalm 87 from Pray All the Psalms:

O Lord Jesus, you have set your foundation on the

            holy mountain;

            for you love the gates of Zion

            more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

   You have brought us to Mount Zion,

            to the heavenly Jerusalem,

            the city of the living God.

   You have brought us to thousands upon thousands

            of angels

            in joyful assembly, 

         to the Church of the firstborn,

            whose names are written in heaven.

   You have brought us to God,

            the judge of all men,

            to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 

   For you, O Jesus, are the mediator of a new covenant.

            

   Glorious things are said of you,

            O city of God,

   “I will record Europe and Australasia

            among those who acknowledge me—

   Africa too, and North and South America,

            along with Asia—

            and all will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”

   For nations on every shore will worship Jesus,

            every one on in its own land:

   So may every nation on every continent say:  

            “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord Jesus,

            to the house of the God of Jacob.

               He will teach us his ways,

            so that we may walk in his paths.”

   Let the Scriptures go out from the Church of the firstborn,

            the word of the Lord from the heavenly Jerusalem.

[MORE]

Day 85: Mark 10:32-52 & Psalm 86 - What Makes for Great Leadership in the Kingdom of God?

Today's Reading: Mark 10:32-52 & Psalm 86

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What Makes for Great Leadership in the Kingdom of God?

"You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Mark 10:42-45, ESV

Why does it seem like we are so often not paying attention when God is trying to teach us the most important lessons? The disciples certainly had this problem. Jesus told them in Mark 10:33-34 about how He would be betrayed, unjustly condemned, beaten and killed. James and John missed the whole rejection and suffering lesson and instead asked Jesus if they could sit on His right and left hand sides in glory. Jesus' mind is on the coming cross and they are thinking about glory and positions of power for themselves.

So Jesus, ever the patient teacher, takes the opportunity of James and John's misguided request to teach the disciples about what makes for great leadership in His kingdom. The disciples obviously had not been paying attention to the way Jesus was serving the people - healing, blessing, teaching, casting out demons. They still thought of leadership in terms of position, power and prestige and not in terms of humility and service.

Jesus actually says that the first place among His followers would belong to the one who was a slave to all. For free Jews living under Roman occupation, the idea of voluntarily making themselves like slaves was horrible to consider. They wanted more freedom, not less, They wanted a higher position, not a lower one. 

But in leadership as in all of life, Jesus Himself must be our model. "The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." We would have no hope, no life, and no salvation if Jesus had thought of position, power, and prestige instead of serving and meeting the needs of His people. Those of us called to leadership - in our homes, in our communities, in our workplaces or in the church - must have the same mindset as Christ and ask, "How can I serve?" instead of "How can I be served?" 

Prayer - Psalm 86:

Incline Your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
    for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am godly;
    save Your servant, who trusts in You—You are my God.
Be gracious to me, O Lord,
    for to You do I cry all the day.
Gladden the soul of Your servant,
    for to You, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
For You, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
    abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon You.
Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
    listen to my plea for grace.
In the day of my trouble I call upon You,
    for You answer me.

There is none like You among the gods, O Lord,
    nor are there any works like Yours.
All the nations you have made shall come
    and worship before You, O Lord,
    and shall glorify your name.
For You are great and do wondrous things;
    You alone are God.
Teach me Your way, O Lord,
    that I may walk in Your truth;
    unite my heart to fear Your name.
I give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
    and I will glorify Your name forever.
For great is Your steadfast love toward me;
    You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

O God, Satan and his minions have risen up against me;
    the world, my flesh and the devil seek my life.
But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
Turn to me and be gracious to me;
    give Your strength to Your servant.
Show me a sign of Your favor,
    that those who hate me may see and be put to shame
    because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me. (ESV)