Praying Through A Warning

 

Leviticus 26:14-20 – “If you turn away from Me and refuse to follow My instructions, expect terror to follow! All manner of ills will surround you, and all your hard work will come to nothing. The sky will be like iron against you and the soil like bronze, and the sources of your pride will be destroyed.”

 

Lord, this is not the kind of promise we want to hear! But thank You for letting us know what to expect. Thank You for reminding us that our choices and actions have consequences – as surely as when a child disobeys a parent or teacher, especially after being warned.

Heavenly Father, You have instructed us. You have warned us. If we start to turn from You – or if our friends, family, church, or country start to turn away – please coax us back before we go too far astray. Thank You, Lord.

 

 

Mary Harwell Sayler
from the book, Kneeling on the Promises of God 

 

Praying with Psalm 10

LORD, why does it feel like You’re so far away?
Why do I have trouble finding You in my troubles?

I could go on and on about how
wicked ways seem to prosper,
and helpless people get crushed,
but I know You know.
…

O LORD, arise! Lift Your hand to help!
The wicked think You won’t,
but I know You see and note wrongdoings.
Take them in hand!

Helpless ones commit themselves to You.
Don’t leave us Fatherless!
Break the hold of evil on us, and call
us into account for anything not of You
until You find nothing ill in us.

LORD, be our King forever
for people and nations perish without You.

Hear our desires, O LORD.
Strengthen our hearts.
Incline Your ear to us and do justice
to those who feel oppressed
and Fatherless without You.
Let no one on earth strike us
with terror.

prayer-a-phrased by Mary Harwell Sayler, © 2017

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