Day Three: 31 Days of Prayer

July 3, 2010
Morning

Psalm 16:1 Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.

“Is the World Broke?” asked a Fox Business News special in June. The show was talking about the world’s finances. There is a more important question. Is the world bankrupt morally, ethically, and spiritually? David considered his world (and himself) to be broken. David likely penned this Psalm as he fled from King Saul (1 Samuel 18-30). The whole world seemingly was against him. How did David cope? Sometimes doubt led him to do silly things. In the end he survived his broken world by trusting in God’s providential care. Psalm 16 expresses the lessons learned in troubling times.
The Apostle Peter experienced troubling times too. At the end of his life he would be bound and led to his own death on a cross, crucified upside down. Like David, however, he experienced God’s care, urging all of us in 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Christians are neither naïve nor stoic. We face our troubles and anxieties head on. We just give them to the Lord in faith.
What are the troubles you face today? Make a list of all the things that are creating chaos and anxiety in your life. Then one by one take them to the Lord like David, Peter, and Paul. Paul encourages us in Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Keep praying until God’s peace breaks through your anxiety.

Evening

Who is the object of God’s providential care in this Psalm? As David penned this Psalm clearly he was thinking of God’s care for him. Read this Psalm and take note of how many times David used a form of the personal pronoun (I, me, or my). By my fallible count there are 26 personal references. God is the caregiver. David is the recipient. And so are we!
Note also the extent of that care. In every life situation David trusts that God will care for him, even in death. That’s important because if death wins, all are losers (1 Corinthians 15:17). How did David know that God would care even in his death? Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit He looks forward to his descendant through whom God would fulfill all of David’s promises. That descendant is Jesus Christ. If God would not allow “His Holy One” to decay, then David was assured that he would not be abandoned to the grave. The care God gives to Jesus is given through Him to all who trust Him.
David looked forward to the resurrection for assurance; Apostle Paul looked backward. For your assurance tonight pray David’s words in Psalm 16 and Paul’s in 1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.