“The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor… the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth. The wicked through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts… His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity” (Ps. 10:2-4, 7)
“The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor”
Father, I thank You that You are not a persecutor of the poor. You are truly concerned about those with little to no money. But, Father, I pray, and I thank You that You are eternally concerned with those who are of a poor and contrite spirit.
The wicked do in fact seek to persecute those who are of a poor spirit. Your Son told me this in the Beatitudes, when He declared that those who are the salt and light of the earth should also be marked by poverty of spirit and persecution.
Father, I thank You that I do not need to fight my own battles. I thank You that You are with me and You will fight for me. I pray that I would be concerned about the very things that You are concerned with. I pray that I would be concerned for those who are poor monetarily and those who are poor spiritually.
You have been so gracious and kind to me. Words cannot quite express the depths of my gratitude. When I was poor in spirit before You, You did not reject me as my sins deserved. Instead, Lord, You brought me close and into a saving and abiding relationship with You. For that, Lord, I am forever grateful.
“the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire”
Turn my heart to You this day. I not only desire to be like Christ, but I need to be like Him – not simply because it is a command, but because it is the only way to know You and love You. I see that the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire. I also see, based upon Your Word, that the wicked have their hearts filled with sin.
I pray that You would cleanse my heart this day. I pray that You would sanctify my heart this day. Purge me with hyssop, Lord, as David prayed, and I will surely be clean. Cleanse me with the blood of Christ, and purify me by Your Holy Spirit, Lord. Enlarge my heart, as the psalmist prayed, that I would also run in Your commandments.
You are worthy of my devotion, and I pray that You would bind my wandering heart to Thee. I pray that You would forever keep me close in the deep recesses of my heart. I am not content with mere outward formalism. I am not content with going through the motions of Christianity while my heart is far from You. Seal my heart this day and make it Your own, Lord, I pray.
“and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth”
Father, I also see that there is a trend in the culture. This trend is represented in the book of Romans chapter one. The trend is not only to commit unrighteous and sinful acts, but also to give approval to those who practice them.
Father, I pray that I would love what You love and hate what You hate. Teach me to think like You, to act like You, and to see like You. I am far from where I need to be, but, Lord, I pray that I would not set my mind on things of this world. I pray that I would not condone sin or give approval to sinful practices. I pray that You would teach me to go against the current flow of the cultural norm and seek to be like Christ in a world that needs Him.
I pray that I would see sin for what it is and abhor sin as You do, Lord. I pray that You would work in my heart this day so that I would desire to help the lost to turn from their sin.
“The wicked through the pride of his countenance”
Father, I thank You that You are a humble God – while at the same time being exalted. I see in Christ a servant leader. I see in Christ a God Who humbled Himself, stooped down, and washed His disciple’s feet. It is amazing to see Christ in this way. When John started his ministry and baptized Christ, he made it clear that he was not even worthy to stoop down and loosen the strap of Jesus’ sandal. At the end of Christ’s ministry, it was Christ Who did the stooping, although His disciples were not even worthy to wash their Lord’s feet.
What an amazing God You are. You are worthy of praise, devotion, adoration, and glory. Rid my heart of pride that I might serve You as I ought. I see that Satan is one who was brought low because he desired to raise himself above the stars of heaven and even above You, O Lord. I see that Christ is One Who sought to humble Himself and did not count equality with God something to be held on to.
I see in Christ a humble servant. I pray that You would make me like Him.
“will not seek after God”
Father, I thank You that You have sought after me. When I was running from You, You came and found me like a lost sheep. I did not save myself, nor did anything in me merit Your great salvation. You are the Author of salvation, and I thank You for including me in Your story and penning my name in the Lamb’s book of life.
Teach me to seek You, Lord. Seeking You must be my aim in life. I will benefit greatly from making You my prize and goal. I find that I can get very distracted in this life. Lord, please teach me to focus upon You.
“God is not in all his thoughts”
One of the main areas of concern that I have is that in the depths of my being, I need to honor You as God. It is easy to be spiritual and perform in front of others, but this will not do. It is easy to be nice and even serve in Your name, but this will not do if my heart is far from You.
Jesus spoke of the Pharisees as ones who conducted themselves as outwardly righteous people. There will also be people who will say, “Lord, Lord,” on the Day of Judgment. You desire my heart, O God, and I pray that I would worship You in a way that is pleasing to You. Teach me Your ways and purify my heart.
I pray that my thoughts would be true and honorable. I pray that my thoughts would be just and pure. I pray that my thoughts would be lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Teach me, Lord, to set my mind on things above. Rid me of desires to set my mind on things below. Christ is seated in the heavenly places, and I have been raised with Christ. Teach me to think as Christ would think.
“His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity”
Father, I also pray that Your kingdom would come on earth as it is in heaven. In heaven, Your will is being accomplished. In heaven, there is perfect loyalty and obedience and worship. I pray that Your kingdom would come. I pray that the masses would bow the knee to You, God, and that Your name would be hallowed.
I pray that praise would be lifted up to You and not cursing. I pray that Your name would be revered and not blasphemed. I pray that truth would go forth and not lies. I also pray that You would start with me.
I pray that You would teach me to tame my tongue as James told me. I see James’ desire for his readers to be concerned about the words that they use. Sanctify my speech through the cross of Christ and by Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen