Day 100: God Guards Your Back

Today’s Scripture: Psalm 78:66

Central Thought: We don’t have to worry about taking revenge on our enemies; judgment is God’s department.

Revenge! It seems that hatred and hostility can be found everywhere. The daily news carries many stories about people taking revenge. Gang warfare and ethnic strife abound. Many stories of revenge end with accounts of people dying.

Today’s verse tells us that ‘He beat back his enemies” (NIV). Yesterday, we read in Deuteronomy 32:35 that vengeance is reserved for God. God has reserved the right to bring judgment on people. He did not leave the job to us. So how do we handle it when people violate us in some way?

When my husband and I were youth pastors, two people who lived near the church brought law suits against two of the ministries of the church. The law suits went on for several years, costing both sides a lot of money, time, and emotional energy. Just when it looked like a ten-year legal battle was in store, God answered prayer. The suing parties settled, and the legal battle was over. A short time later, the two men who brought the action against the church both died in separate incidents.

I remember thinking it odd that both men died so unexpectedly until I remembered these verses. God watches over His Church and His people. Nothing that goes on in this world escapes His notice. We should not worry about those who come against us. Instead, we need to lift up the offenses to God, not allowing hatred and anger to poison and possess our souls. We can trust God to rightly judge each incident and situation and to push back our enemies.

Devotional Prayer: Lord, please help me forgive others when they hurt me instead of carrying the anger. Thank You that You guard my back in every situation.

Today’s Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 33:1-29; Luke13:1-21; Psalm 78:65-72; Proverbs 12:25