Today's prayer: Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me; all day long they press their attack.

Psalm 56

1

Psalm 56 For the director of music. To [the tune of] "A Dove on Distant Oaks." Of David. A miktam. When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

1

Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me; all day long they press their attack.

2

My slanderers pursue me all day long; many are attacking me in their pride.

3

When I am afraid, I will trust in you.

4

In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?

5

All day long they twist my words; they are always plotting to harm me.

6

They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, eager to take my life.

7

On no account let them escape; in your anger, O God, bring down the nations.

8

Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll ^[2] -- are they not in your record?

9

Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me.

10

In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise--

11

in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

12

I am under vows to you, O God; I will present my thank offerings to you.

13

For you have delivered me  from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. 

Today's praises: I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders

Psalm 9

1

Psalm 9 For the director of music. To [the tune of] "The Death of the Son." A psalm of David. ^[1]

1

I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.

2

I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

3

My enemies turn back; they stumble and perish before you.

4

For you have upheld my right and my cause; you have sat on your throne, judging righteously.

5

You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.

6

Endless ruin has overtaken the enemy, you have uprooted their cities; even the memory of them has perished.

7

The LORD reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment.

8

He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice.

9

The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

10

Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

11

Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done.

12

For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.

13

O LORD, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,

14

that I may declare your praises in the gates of the Daughter of Zion and there rejoice in your salvation.

15

The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.

16

The LORD is known by his justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. Higgaion. ^[2] Selah

17

The wicked return to the grave, ^[3] all the nations that forget God.

18

But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.

19

Arise, O LORD, let not man triumph; let the nations be judged in your presence.

20

Strike them with terror, O LORD; let the nations know they are but men. Selah

Today's bible teaching: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning

*YOUR MORNING OF JOY IS HERE*

*Psalm 30:5 - ...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.*

Ups and downs in life are inevitable. There are unpredictable nature of life. Life may not be perfect, comfortable, or free of pain and struggle. But in the midst of our pain, uncertainty, and fear, God is always with us and working for us.

David experienced his darkest moments in life. In the presence of his dark night, David never gave up. He pressed on to win all his battles with full joy.

Beloved, we can always find joy in the promises of God, knowing fully well that in the hours of fear, and moments of greatest uncertainty, God is still God and Him alone is in control. He has a plan, and that plan is ultimately good. I see a glorious morning filled with joy in your life.

God doesn't promise a sorrow-free life, but God does promise that joy will come. When we know God, we believe that despair will not rule the day. The clouds may eclipse the sun, but they cannot eliminate it. The morning sun always comes, maybe not as quickly as we would like it to be, but morning must come. Joy will come out of your sad and darkest night. Your morning of joy is here. Amen!

*Shalom!*

*#UncleRichCares*

Today's prayer: Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing.

Psalm 5

1

Psalm 5 For the director of music. For flutes. A psalm of David.

1

Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing.

2

Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.

3

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

4

You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell.

5

The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong.

6

You destroy those who tell lies; bloodthirsty and deceitful men the LORD abhors.

7

But I, by your great mercy, will come into your house; in reverence will I bow down toward your holy temple.

8

Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies-- make straight your way before me.

9

Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit.

10

Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you.

11

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

12

For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Today's prayer: To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.

Psalm 25

1

Psalm 25 Of David. 

1

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;

2

in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.

3

No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.

4

Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths;

5

guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

6

Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.

7

Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD.

8

Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.

9

He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

10

All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.

11

For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

12

Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.

13

He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land.

14

The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.

15

My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

16

Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.

17

The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish.

18

Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.

19

See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me!

20

Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.

21

May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.

22

Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles!

Today's prayer: To you I call, O LORD my Rock; do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who have gone down to the pit.

Psalm 28

1

Psalm 28 Of David.

1

To you I call, O LORD my Rock; do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who have gone down to the pit.

2

Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.

3

Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts.

4

Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work; repay them for what their hands have done and bring back upon them what they deserve.

5

Since they show no regard for the works of the LORD and what his hands have done, he will tear them down and never build them up again.

6

Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy.

7

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

8

The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

9

Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Today's bible teaching: I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 34

1

Psalm 34 Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left. 

1

I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.

2

My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

3

Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.

4

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

5

Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

6

This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.

7

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

8

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

9

Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.

10

The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

11

Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,

13

keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.

14

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

15

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry;

16

the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

17

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.

18

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19

A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;

20

he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

21

Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

22

The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.