"In the shelter of Your presence You hide [those who fear/honor/revere God] from all human intrigues; You keep them safe in Your dwelling from accusing tongues" (Psalm 31:20).
Our Father and our God, You who see the depths of the human heart tell us that "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9). The Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples that "out of a person’s heart... evil thoughts come— ...malice, deceit...envy, slander..." (Mark 7:21-22). And Your word instructs us to "guard [our] heart, for everything [we] do flows from it" (Proverbs 4:23).
Father, You know our struggles with self-control and with runaway emotions, so time and again, You remind us of how to relate to others in love: "Keep a tight rein on [your] tongues" (James 1:26);"Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires" (James 1:19-20); "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice" (Ephesians 4:31).
Help us, Lord, to sincerely desire to love others. To seek to live at peace in all our ongoing or occasional interactions. Deliver us from the evils of gossip and slander, malice and envy. When we feel the urge to judge or criticize, help us to pray instead for the one we would judge or criticize. Help us to use our tongues to build up and encourage instead of destroying or pulling down.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, help us to do our part to "seek peace and pursue it" (Psalm 34:14). Your word tells us, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Romans 12:18). But You know Lord, it may not always be possible. We may encounter "malicious [people] who are painful briers and sharp thorns" (Ezekiel 28:24).
Teach us discernment and wisdom in difficult interactions and in conflict. Thank You for the powerful example of our Lord Jesus, who knew when to speak up, and when to be silent, when to confront, and when to retreat. And when it was necessary for Him to endure suffering, He fully surrendered to Your will: "When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly" (1 Peter 2:23).
O Lord, help us! Teach us to rely on You. We struggle so much to respond appropriately when we are misunderstood, maligned, or wronged! We look for formulas, and rules, and strategies when You ask us to trust You. When You ask us to "commit [our] way to [You]... and [You] will make [our] righteous reward shine like the dawn, [our] vindication like the noonday sun" (Psalm 37:5-6).
Remind us that "the Lord will vindicate His people and have compassion on His servants" (Psalm 135:14). That "when the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall" (Psalm 27:2). Remind us that in Your sheltering presence we are kept hidden from all human intrigues and safe from accusing tongues.
Teach us to walk in wisdom, entrusting ourselves to the One who judges justly.
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