Day 13 - Intense Treatment - Jesus's transformation in our lives leads to good living

Jesus,

The example of love and giving that you taught on and exemplified is amazing - and impossible.  I know myself.  So, help me to know how you view good and evil so I can make discerning choices as to how to interact with other people.  Purify my heart so the fruit I produce is good fruit.  When I am persecuted, give me grace and mercy to bless and pray for my enemies.  Help me to overcome evil with good and, as far as it depends on me, to live at peace.  May your transforming, renewing power overtake my mind.  Motivate me in a new way so my faith will strengthen and operate at an increased level. Build my faith so I have more love.  In your name I pray, Amen. 

- love heals someone, even if it breaks man's rules

- blessed are the poor, hungry, or grieving for they will be satisfied with laughter in the kingdom of God

- blessed are you when people hate you, exclude you, insult you, and reject your name as evil because you follow Jesus

- love your enemies and do good to them

- do good to those who hate you

- bless those who curse you

- pray for those who mistreat you

- do to others what you want them to do for you

- be merciful as God is merciful

- do not judge or condemn, but forgive and give generously

- a good heart produces good fruit

- offer yourself as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God

- do not conform to the pattern of this world

- be transformed by the renewing of your mind

- know what is evil and what is good - hate evil/love good

- be devoted to one another

- honor one another

- keep your spiritual fervor

- be joyful in hope

- be patient in affliction

- be faithful in prayer

- share with those in need

- practice hospitality

- bless and don't curse those who persecute you

- rejoice with the joyful, mourn with the sorrowful

- live in harmony with one another

- hang out with people of low position

- don't be conceited

- don't repay evil with evil

- do what is right in the eyes of God

- live at peace with everyone, whenever possible

- let God take revenge

- overcome evil with good

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

6 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. 2 Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

3 Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” 5 Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

6 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. 7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there.

9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

10 He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

The Twelve Apostles

12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: 14 Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Blessings and Woes

17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

20 Looking at his disciples, he said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,

    for yours is the kingdom of God.

21 

Blessed are you who hunger now,

    for you will be satisfied.

Blessed are you who weep now,

    for you will laugh.

22 

Blessed are you when people hate you,

    when they exclude you and insult you

    and reject your name as evil,

        because of the Son of Man.

23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

24 

“But woe to you who are rich,

    for you have already received your comfort.

25 

Woe to you who are well fed now,

    for you will go hungry.

Woe to you who laugh now,

    for you will mourn and weep.

26 

Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,

    for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.

Love for Enemies

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Judging Others

37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

39 He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.

41 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

A Tree and Its Fruit

43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

The Wise and Foolish Builders

46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”  (Luke 6 NIV)

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love in Action

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[e]

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.  (Romans 12 NIV)

Idea from:  https://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word_pf.html?ID=25704 

Psalm 86 Prayer for the nation

 
Saving God,

Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; your works and your miracles are incomparable. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, bringing glory to your name.  You are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.   Lord, hear and answer your people in this nation in this hour.  We are in deep trouble, broken, humbled, and desperately needing your help.  Arrogant foes attack your people, your Church and this nation.  Ruthless people who have no regard for you are trying to destroy us. Their deceptive and evil ideas have permeated this society so that its institutions, people, and even your Church are attacked, misled, and degraded.  Hear our prayers, Lord, and protect and save those who serve you and trust in you.  You are our God; have mercy on us and answer us as we put our trust in you.   May your strength become our strength and save us.  Give us a sign of your goodness so our those who hate us will be put to shame, for you, Lord have helped and comforted us.  You are forgiving and good, abounding in love, to all who call on you.  You are compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and faithful.  Bring us deeply into a fuller knowledge of your ways, Lord, so we may rely on your truth and faithfulness.  Give us undivided hearts so we fear your name.  We will praise you, Lord, our God, with all our hearts and glorify your name forever. You have delivered us from the deepest place of darkness and you love us so much Jesus died for our sins and you have placed your Spirit within us.  Rescue your people, your Church, and this nation from the wickedness that has infiltrated it. Break the power of the wicked and protect your righteous ones.  We claim in the name of Jesus that no weapon formed against your people, your Church, or this nation will prevail.  We are servants of the Lord and his vindication is ours.  In Jesus's name, Amen. 


No weapon forged against you will prevail,
    and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
    and this is their vindication from me,”
declares the Lord. (Isaiah 54:17 NIV)

The power of the wicked will be broken,
    but the Lord upholds the righteous. (Psalm 37:17 NIV)

1 Hear me, Lord, and answer me,
    for I am poor and needy.
2 Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
    save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; 
3 have mercy on me, Lord,
    for I call to you all day long.
4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
    for I put my trust in you.
5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
    abounding in love to all who call to you.
6 Hear my prayer, Lord;
    listen to my cry for mercy.
7 When I am in distress, I call to you,
    because you answer me.
8 Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;
    no deeds can compare with yours.
9 All the nations you have made
    will come and worship before you, Lord;
    they will bring glory to your name.
10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
    you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, Lord,
    that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
    that I may fear your name.
12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
    I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
    you have delivered me from the depths,
    from the realm of the dead.
14 Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
    ruthless people are trying to kill me—
    they have no regard for you.
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
    slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and have mercy on me;
    show your strength in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
    just as my mother did.
17 Give me a sign of your goodness,
    that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
    for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me. (Psalm 86 NIV)

1 Lord, bend down to listen to my prayer.
    I am in deep trouble. I’m broken and humbled,
    and I desperately need your help.
2 Guard my life, for I’m your faithful friend, your loyal servant for life.
    I turn to you in faith, my God, my hero; come and rescue me!
3 Lord God, hear my constant cry for help;
    show me your favor and bring me to your fountain of grace!
4 Restore joy to your loving servant once again,
    for all I am is yours, O God.
5 Lord, you are so good to me, so kind in every way
    and ready to forgive,
    for your grace-fountain keeps overflowing,
    drenching all your devoted lovers who pray to you.
6 God, won’t you pay attention to this urgent cry?
    Lord, bend down to listen to my prayer.
7 Whenever trouble strikes, I will keep crying out to you,
    for I know your help is on the way.
8 God, there’s no one like you;
    there’s no other god as famous as you.
    You outshine all others, and your miracles make it easy to know you.
9 Lord Almighty, you are the one who created all the nations.
    Look at them—they’re all on their way!
    Yes, the day will come when they all will worship you
    and put your glory on display.
10 You are the one and only God.
    What miracles! What wonders! What greatness belongs to you!
11 Teach me more about you, how you work and how you move,
    so that I can walk onward in your truth
    until everything within me brings honor to your name.
12 With all my heart and passion I will thank you, my God!
    I will give glory to your name, always and forever!
13 You love me so much, and you have placed your greatness upon me.
    You rescued me from the deepest place of darkness,
    and you have delivered me from a certain death.
14 God, look at how these arrogant ones have defied me.
    Like a vicious band of violent men, they have tried to kill me.
    They wouldn’t worry for a moment that they were sinning against you!
15 But Lord, your nurturing love is tender and gentle.
    You are slow to get angry yet so swift to show your faithful love.
    You are full of abounding grace and truth.
16 Bring me to your grace-fountain
    so that your strength becomes mine.
    Be my hero and come rescue your servant once again!
17 Send me a miraculous sign to show me how much you love me,
    so that those who hate me will see it and be ashamed.
    Don’t they know that you, Lord, are my comforter,
    the one who comes to help me? (Psalm 86 TPT)

Psalm 74 - God will crush the enemies

Powerful Yahweh,

We worship you, with outstretched hands as our whole hearts erupt with praise!  We will tell everyone everywhere about your wonderful works!  We will be glad and shout in triumph, singing praise to your exalted name, O Most High.  You split open the sea by your power; you broke the heads of the monster and crushed the heads of dragons.  You opened up springs and streams and dried up the ever-flowing rivers.  You created the day, the night, the sun and moon; you set all the boundaries of the earth and the seasons. We are your very own people and, yet, in this day and age it can feel like you have abandoned us.  Remember the people you purchased by the blood of Christ so long ago.  Remember your beloved ones that you chose to bring out of slavery and bondage to sin.  Remember the ways in which you brought this nation into existence. Remember the many faithful people who wanted freedom to worship you in Spirit and in Truth, to live in relationship to you, and to create a just and honorable society based on your principles.  Remember your people who have served you and cried out in prayer, interceding for this nation through the generations. Do not leave us, God, or turn your back on those you love.  We are yours, your very own.  Your enemy - the enemy of our souls - seeks to crush us, your Church - to destroy us as a forest is chopped to the ground and destroyed.  Our enemy wants to eliminate every place where you have been present and worshipped - to eliminate your Goodness and Grace from every trace of the public and private sphere. But, you are our King and Conquerer!  You bring salvation and you give victory over evil.  Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord, how foolish people have reviled your name.  Do not hand over the life of your Church to evil beasts.   The darkness and violence haunt this land.  Rise up and defend your Name against the clamor of your adversaries.  With a blast of your rebuke, evil is destroyed and you obliterate their names forever and ever. You thunder and our enemies are cut off, vanished in everlasting ruins. All their strongholds are destroyed—but Yahweh, our mighty God, reigns forever!  In the powerful name of Christ we pray.  AMEN and AMEN!

Psalm 74: TPT

Are you really going to leave us, God?
    Would you turn your back on us, rejecting your people?
    We are yours, your very own.
    Will your anger smolder against us forever?
2 Don’t forget that we are your beloved ones.
    Wrap us back into your heart again, for you chose us.
    You brought us out of our slavery and bondage
    and made us your favored ones, your Zion-people,
    your home on earth.
3 Turn your steps toward this devastation.
    Come running to bring your restoring grace to these ruins,
    to what the enemy has done to devastate your Holy Place.
4 They have come into the very midst of your dwelling place,
    roaring like beasts, setting up their banners to flaunt their conquest.
5 Now everything is in shambles! They’ve totally destroyed it.
    Like a forest chopped down to the ground,
    there’s nothing left.
6 All of the beauty of the craftsmanship
    of the inner place has been ruined,
    smashed, broken, and shattered.
7 They’ve burned it all to the ground.
    They’ve violated your sanctuary,
    the very dwelling place of your glory and your name.
8 They boasted, “Let’s completely crush them!
    Let’s wipe out every trace of this God.
    Let’s burn up every sacred place where they worship this God.”
9 We don’t see any miraculous signs anymore.
    There’s no longer a prophet among us
    who can tell us how long this devastation will continue.
10 God, how much longer will you let this go on
    and allow these barbarians to blaspheme your name?
    Will you stand back and watch them get away with this forever?
11 Why don’t you do something?
    You have the power to break in,
    so why would you hide your great power from us?
    Don’t hold back! Unleash your might and give them a final blow.
12 You have always been, and always will be, my King.
    You are the mighty conqueror, working wonders all over the world.
13 It was you who split the sea in two by your glorious strength.
    You smashed the power of Tannin, the sea monster.
14 You crushed the might of Leviathan, the great dragon,
    then you took the crumbs and fed them to the sharks.
15 With your glory you opened up springs and fountains,
    then you spoke, and the ever-flowing springs of Jordan
    dried up so we could cross over.
16 You own the day and the night.
    Sunlight and starlight call you Creator.
17 The four corners of the earth were formed by your hands,
    and every changing season owes its beauty to you.
18 O Yahweh, don’t ever forget how these arrogant enemies,
    like fools, have mocked your name.
19 Lord, aren’t we your beloved dove that praises you?
    Protect us from these wild beasts who want to harm us.
    Don’t leave us as lambs among wolves!
    You can’t abandon us after all we’ve been through!
20 Remember your promises to us,
    for darkness covers the land,
    giving the violent ones a hiding place.
21 Don’t let these insults continue.
    Can’t you see that we are your downtrodden
    and oppressed people?
    Make the poor and needy into a choir of praise to you!
22 Don’t ignore these ignorant words, this continual mocking.
    Rise up, God; it’s time to defend yourself from all this.
23 Never forget what your adversaries are saying.
    For their rage and uproar rise continually against you.
    It’s time to stand up to them!

Psalm 74 NIV: 

1 

O God, why have you rejected us forever?

    Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?

2 

Remember the nation you purchased long ago,

    the people of your inheritance, whom you redeemed—

    Mount Zion, where you dwelt.

3 

Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins,

    all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.

4 

Your foes roared in the place where you met with us;

    they set up their standards as signs.

5 

They behaved like men wielding axes

    to cut through a thicket of trees.

6 

They smashed all the carved paneling

    with their axes and hatchets.

7 

They burned your sanctuary to the ground;

    they defiled the dwelling place of your Name.

8 

They said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely!”

    They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land.

9 

We are given no signs from God;

    no prophets are left,

    and none of us knows how long this will be.

10 

How long will the enemy mock you, God?

    Will the foe revile your name forever?

11 

Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?

    Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!

12 

But God is my King from long ago;

    he brings salvation on the earth.

13 

It was you who split open the sea by your power;

    you broke the heads of the monster in the waters.

14 

It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan

    and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.

15 

It was you who opened up springs and streams;

    you dried up the ever-flowing rivers.

16 

The day is yours, and yours also the night;

    you established the sun and moon.

17 

It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth;

    you made both summer and winter.

18 

Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord,

    how foolish people have reviled your name.

19 

Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts;

    do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever.

20 

Have regard for your covenant,

    because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.

21 

Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace;

    may the poor and needy praise your name.

22 

Rise up, O God, and defend your cause;

    remember how fools mock you all day long.

23 

Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries,

    the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually." 

Psalm 9:1-2, 5-7 TPT

I will worship you, Yahweh, with extended hands
    as my whole heart erupts with praise![b]
    I will tell everyone everywhere about your wonderful works!
2 I will be glad and shout in triumph.
    I will sing praise to your exalted name, O Most High. 

With a blast of your rebuke, nations are destroyed.
    You obliterated their names forever and ever.
6 The Lord thundered and our enemies have been cut off,
    vanished in everlasting ruins.
    All their cities have been destroyed—
    even the memory of them has been erased.
7 

But Yahweh, our mighty God, reigns forever! 

March 2, 2021 Prayer - Destroy the wicked, encourage the righteous

Lord God Almighty,

You are righteousness, as sure as the dawning of a new day.  You are justice, as sure and strong as the noonday sun.  You are the God who takes vengeance on your enemies.  It’s obvious that you will have nothing to do with corrupt rulers who pass laws that empower evil and defeat what is right.  We ask that their evil plans will boomerang back onto them, that every plot they hatch will seal their own doom.  Let your rays of revelation-light shine from your people and pierce the conscience of the wicked.  Punish the wicked and proud with the penalty they deserve.  They brag among themselves about the crimes they've committed against your people; they crush and cruelly oppose those who love you and belong to you. Heartlessly they murder infants in the womb, elderly in nursing homes, dreams of small business owners, mental health of struggling people, healing of addicted ones, educations and futures of younger generations, financial stability of our nation, people's connections with friends and relatives, and people's hope and confidence in living a peaceful, fear-free, joyful life.  But your eyes see all this evil!  You see the way the corrupt, evil, and wicked have hurt your children and you will surely punish this evil.  Turn all their weapons of wickedness back on themselves, piercing their pride-filled hearts until they are the helpless. You, God, will destroy them, giving them what they deserve. You are our true tower of strength, our safe place, shelter, and hideout.  You will never walk away from your cherished ones, nor will you forsake your chosen ones because we belong to you; you are our righteousness.  May the steps of we, the God-pursuing ones, follow firmly in the footsteps of the Lord, and may you delight in us as we seek to follow you.  Help us to be patient for you to act at the right time. Help us to trust that every promise and inheritance will come to us and the wicked will lose everything.  May we trust in the Lord and do what is right in your eyes, fixing our hearts on the promises of God and feasting on your faithfulness.   In Jesus's name we pray, Amen. 

Lord God Almighty, you are the God

who takes vengeance on your enemies.

It’s time for you to punish evil!

Let your rays of revelation-light shine from your people and

pierce the conscience of the wicked and punish them.

2 

It’s time to arise as judge of all the earth;

arise to punish the proud with the penalty they deserve!

3 

How much longer will you sit back and watch the wicked

triumph in their evil, boasting in all that is wrong?

4–5 

Listen to them bragging among themselves,

big in their own eyes, all because of the crimes

they’ve committed against your people!

See how they’re crushing those who love you, God,

cruelly oppressing those who belong to you.

6 

Heartlessly they murder the widows, the foreigners,

and even the orphaned children.

7 

They say to themselves, “The Lord God doesn’t see this.

Their God, the God of Jacob, he doesn’t even care!”

8 

But you’d better watch out, you stupid fools!

You’d better wise up! Why would you act like God doesn’t exist?

Do you really think that God can’t hear their cries?

9 

God isn’t hard of hearing; he’ll hear all their cries.

God isn’t blind. He who made the eye has superb vision

and he’s watching all you do.

10 

Won’t the God who knows all things know what you’ve done?

The God who punishes nations will surely punish you!

11 

The Lord has fully examined every thought of man

and found them all to be empty and futile.

12 

Lord Yah, there’s such a blessing that comes

when you teach us your word and your ways.

Even the sting of your correction can be sweet.

13 

It rescues us from our days of trouble

until you are ready to punish the wicked.

14 

For the Lord will never walk away from his cherished ones,

nor would he forsake his chosen ones who belong to him.

15 

Whenever you pronounce judgments, they reveal righteousness.

All your lovers will be pleased.

16 

Lord, who will protect me from these wicked ones?

If you don’t stand to defend me, who will? I have no one but you!

17 

I would have been killed so many times

if you had not been there for me.

18 

When I screamed out, “Lord, I’m doomed!”

your fiery love was stirred and you raced to my rescue.

19 

Whenever my busy thoughts were out of control,

the soothing comfort of your presence

calmed me down and overwhelmed me with delight.

20 

It’s obvious to all; you will have nothing to do

with corrupt rulers who pass laws that empower evil

and defeat what is right.

21 

For they gang up against the lovers of righteousness

and condemn the innocent to death.

22–23 

But I know that all their evil plans will boomerang back onto them.

Every plot they hatch will simply seal their own doom.

For you, my God, you will destroy them,

giving them what they deserve.

For you are my true tower of strength,

my safe place, my hideout, and my true shelter. (Psalm 94 TPT)

Don’t follow after the wicked ones or be jealous of their wealth.

Don’t think for a moment they’re better off than you.

2 

They and their short-lived success

will soon shrivel up and quickly fade away

like grass clippings in the hot sun.

3 

Keep trusting in the Lord and do what is right in his eyes.

Fix your heart on the promises of God and you will be secure,

feasting on his faithfulness.

4 

Make God the utmost delight and pleasure of your life,

and he will provide for you what you desire the most.

5 

Give God the right to direct your life,

and as you trust him along the way

you’ll find he pulled it off perfectly!

6 

He will appear as your righteousness,

as sure as the dawning of a new day.

He will manifest as your justice,

as sure and strong as the noonday sun.

7 

Quiet your heart in his presence and pray;

keep hope alive as you long for God to come through for you.

And don’t think for a moment that the wicked in their prosperity

are better off than you.

8 

Stay away from anger and revenge.

Keep envy far from you, for it only leads you into lies.

9 

For one day the wicked will be destroyed,

but those who trust in the Lord

will live safe and sound with blessings overflowing.

10 

Just a little while longer and the ungodly will vanish;

you will look for them in vain.

11 

But the humble of heart will inherit every promise

and enjoy abundant peace.

12 

Let the wicked keep plotting against the godly

with all their sneers and arrogant jeers.

13 

God doesn’t lose any sleep over them

and he knows their day is coming!

14 

Evil ones take aim on the poor and helpless;

they are ready to slaughter those who do right.

15 

But the Lord will

turn all their weapons of wickedness back on themselves,

piercing their pride-filled hearts until they are the helpless.

16 

It is much better to have little

combined with much of God

than to have the fabulous wealth of the wicked and nothing else.

17 

For the Lord takes care of all his forgiven ones

while the strength of the evil will surely slip away.

18 

Day by day the Lord watches the good deeds of the godly

and he prepares for them his forever-reward.

19 

Even in a time of disaster he will watch over them,

and they will always have more than enough

no matter what happens.

20 

All the enemies of God will perish.

For the wicked have only a momentary value, a fading glory.

Then one day they vanish! Here today, gone tomorrow.

21 

They break their promises, borrowing money

but never paying it back.

The good man returns what he owes with some extra besides.

22 

The Lord’s blessed ones receive it all in the end,

but the cursed ones will be cut off

with nothing to show for themselves.

23 

The steps of the God-pursuing ones

follow firmly in the footsteps of the Lord,

and God delights in every step they take to follow him.

24 

If they stumble badly they will still survive,

for the Lord lifts them up with his hands.

25 

I was once young, but now I’m old.

Not once have I found a lover of God forsaken by him,

nor have any of their children gone hungry.

26 

Instead, I’ve found the godly ones

to be the generous ones who give freely to others.

Their children are blessed and become a blessing.

27 

If you truly want to dwell forever in God’s presence,

forsake evil and do what is right in his eyes.

28 

The Lord loves it when he sees us walking in his justice.

He will never desert his devoted lovers;

they will be kept forever in his faithful care.

But the descendants of the wicked will be banished.

29 

The faithful lovers of God will inherit the earth

and enjoy every promise of God’s care,

dwelling in peace forever.

30 

God-lovers make the best counselors.

Their words possess wisdom and are right and trustworthy.

31 

The ways of God are in their hearts

and they won’t swerve from the paths of steadfast righteousness.

32 

Evil ones spy on the godly ones, stalking them

to find something they could use to accuse them.

They’re out for the kill!

33 

But God will foil all their plots.

The godly will not stand condemned when brought to trial.

34 

So don’t be impatient for the Lord to act;

keep moving forward steadily in his ways,

and he will exalt you at the right time.

And when he does, you will possess every promise,

including your full inheritance.

You’ll watch with your own eyes

and see the wicked lose everything.

35 

I’ve already seen this happen.

Once I saw a wicked and violent man

overpower all who were around him,

a domineering tyrant with his pride and oppressive ways.

36 

Then he died and was forgotten.

Now no one cares that he is gone forever.

37 

But you can tell who are the blameless and spiritually mature.

What a different story with them!

The godly ones will have a peaceful, prosperous future

with a happy ending.

38 

Every evil sinner will be destroyed, obliterated.

They’ll be utter failures with no future!

39 

But the Lord will be the Savior of all who love him.

Even in their time of trouble God will live in them as strength.

40 

Because of their faith in him, their daily portion will be

a Father’s help and deliverance from evil.

This is true for all who turn to hide themselves in him!  (Psalm 37 TPT)