PRAYERS FOR GUIDANCE AND PROTECTION

 ANCHOR OF LIFE DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE For SATURDAY, 15TH APRIL, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE – General Overseer, Anchor of Life & Redemption Ministry Int’l

Topic: PRAYERS FOR GUIDANCE AND PROTECTION

MEMORIZE: “What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.” Psalm 25:12.

SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 25:6-20.

“6 Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.  7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD. 8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. 9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. 10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. 11 For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. 12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. 13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.  14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.  15 ¶ Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.  16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses. 18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins. 19 Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.  20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.”

EXPOSITION:

For the remission of sin (Ps 25:18): Forgive all my sins. Those were his heaviest burdens, and which brought upon him all other burdens. He had begged (Ps 25:7) for the pardon of the sins of his youth, and (Ps 25:11) for the pardon of some one particular iniquity that was remarkably great, which some think, was his sin in the matter of Uriah. But her he prays, Lord, forgive all, take away all iniquity. It is observable that, as to his affliction, he asks for no more than God's regard to it: "Look upon my affliction and my pain, and do with it as thou pleasest."

But, as to his sin, he asks for no less than a full pardon: “Forgive all my sins.” When at any time we are in trouble we should be more concerned about our sins, to get them pardoned, than about our afflictions, to get them removed. Yet he prays, 

For the redress of his grievances. His mind was troubled for God's withdrawing from him and under the sense he had of his displeasure against him for his sins; and therefore he prays (Ps 25:16), Turn thou unto me. And, if God turn to us, no matter who turns from us. His condition was troubled, and, in reference to that, he prays, "O bring thou me out of my distresses. I see no way of deliverance open; but thou canst either find one or make one."

His enemies were siteful; and in reference to that, he prays, "O keep my soul from falling into their hands, or else deliver me out of their hands."

Four things the psalmist mentions by way of plea to enforce these petitions, and refers himself and them to God's consideration:-- 

[1.] He pleads God's mercy: Have mercy upon me. Men of the greatest merits would be undone if they had not to do with a God of infinite mercies. 

[2.] He pleads his own misery, the distress he was in, his affliction and pain, especially the troubles of his heart, all which made him the proper object of divine mercy. 

[3.] He pleads the iniquity of his enemies: "Lord, consider them, how cruel they are, and deliver me out of their hands."

[4.] He pleads his own integrity, Ps 25:12.  Though he had owned himself guilty before God, and had confessed his sins against him, yet, as to his enemies, he had the testimony of his conscience that he had done them no wrong, which was his comfort when they hated him with cruel hatred; and he prays that this might preserve him. This intimates that he did not expect to be safe any longer than he continued in his integrity and uprightness, and that, while he did continue in it, he did not doubt of being safe. 

Sincerity will be our best security in the worst of times. Integrity and uprightness will be a man's preservation more than the wealth and honour of the world can be.  These will preserve us to the heavenly kingdom. We should therefore pray to God to preserve us in our integrity and then be assured that that will preserve us.

PRAYER POINT: Lord, let your Holy Spirit guide and protect me from all evil in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR –  2 Kings 22-25.

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ANCHOR OF LIFE is the daily devotional guide of ANCHOR OF LIFE & REDEMPTION MINISTRY (ALRM), written by PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE. It is an extraction of God’s word designed to draw the sincere seekers closer to God on a daily basis through an insightful exposition and analysis of God’s Word.

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