Daily Prayer for February 19, 2025: Psalm 36

Transgression speaks to the wicked
    deep in his heart;
there is no fear of God
    before his eyes.
2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes
    that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
3 The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;
    he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
4 He plots trouble while on his bed;
    he sets himself in a way that is not good;
    he does not reject evil.

5 Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
    your judgments are like the great deep;
    man and beast you save, O Lord.

7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
    The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house,
    and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light do we see light.

10 Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
    and your righteousness to the upright of heart!
11 Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me,
    nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 There the evildoers lie fallen;
    they are thrust down, unable to rise.
(Psalm 36:1-12, ESV)

Prayer: Our Father, we cry out to you because we live in a world of misery brought on by those who oppose us and your kingdom. We lament our fallen condition and this life wrecked by sin. You made the world in six days, and all very good, but our sin ruined all that you made and plunged us into this vale of tears in which there is only a fleeting glimpse of your majesty and beauty. We confess it is there because you have purposed to reveal it, but we know it is veiled and darkened by the sinful hearts of those in your image. Worse, Father, these people scheme and plot our ruin! Not only do they refuse to acknowledge you, they work against you and your people as they listen to their sinful nature and exercise their evil plans. We bemoan this reality as those who have suffered at the hands of those who profess Christ but turn against those rescued by Christ and seek to ruin them.

We confess our weakness to understand and handle these things. That is why we cry out to you. We have a sympathetic high priest scorned and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He has suffered as we suffer. He knows our frame and understands we are dust. He entrusted himself to you, and we now do the same. We count on your steadfast love, which is not swayed by the circumstances of this fallen world. Your love for us is the same as it was in the beginning, and it will remain that way until the end. We pray for your love to work for your church and against the evil within and without. We pray for your hand of justice to fall on those who scheme, plot, and slander your people. We pray and ask that you remember your promises and help us not forget them. We pray for your righteous and holy anger to work against those who hate us. We further pray for your sustaining grace so we can trust you regardless of your divine will. Please be merciful and guide us, our God. We ask these things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Scripture Meditation: Psalm 36