“From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight. Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day!” (Psalm 72:14-15)

The Lord does not want destruction, but life. Precious in the Lord’s sight is life and He offers it to those who want to flee from oppression and violence. The way of the sinful man is destruction, but the way of the Lord is life. Look to the Lord and He will raise you up to the kind of life for which you were created to live. Pray for those who do not know that one day they will meet Him.

Lord, it is difficult in this age where there are so many who seem bent on violence and destruction, Guide me to live humbly and with care for others. Help me to see them with the same hope that You put in me. May I live in the redemption You have promised and be guided by Your Spirit to see more clearly the ways in which You have called me to live. Guide me always, O Lord.

Lord Jesus, You know violence and oppression and it is because of these things that You went to the cross. There are those who meant it for destruction, but You did it in completion of the Father’s plan as the way of redemption for those who believe. Guide me in Your way of truth, Lord, that I may abide in You now and always and reflect the light of truth in the world for all to see. Amen.

“For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.” (Psalm 72:12-13)

Lord You have always provided even when those who are given the responsibility to do so will not. Help me join in Your work and do those things which are pleasing to You. Help me look beyond the struggles of this age, knowing they are always present, to see the truth that Your ways shall prevail. Lead us, O Lord, in the way of righteousness and peace to take care of our neighbors.

Lord, You know the struggles I have, for I judge others and do not simply do what You ask me to do. Help me now and always to see the truth and walk humbly in Your ways doing what You give me to do. Lead me in righteousness so that I simply do what You place before me and am not hindered by the thoughts in my mind which may get in the way. Lead me in the way of peace.

Lord Jesus, You demonstrated godliness by living a sinless life and taking care of those whom You met each day. By Your example, guide me to do the same. Help me be about Your business and leave all judgements to You. Help me to be both shrewd and innocent in my daily dealings as I live the life to which You have called me. May I this day follow in Your footsteps as You lead. Amen.

“May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!” (Psalm 72:10-11)

If the nations would simply acknowledge that the Lord is God and bow before Him, the world would be at peace. See that the Lord is not looking for dominion, for it is already His. We strive for power that will never be ours. Oh that the nations would simply come into the truth and know that the Lord is good and desires that we live in peace. May they come and fall before Him that we may have peace.

Lord, I know this is the desire You place in our hearts and also how the world rebels against this. Help me to live in peace in so far as it is up to me. Keep me from warring against my neighbor and even when others do not bow to You, help me to be a witness of how things truly are. Guide me in the way of peace that I may live in harmony with Your will and Your ways.

Lord Jesus, it was no real temptation when the devil wanted to make you think that He was offering You the nations. All is Yours for You created all things. Let this simple truth resonate within me that I would hold fast to the truth You have revealed knowing that all things are in Your hands. Guide me to be at peace with all around me and not get caught up in the lies of this age. Amen.

“May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth! May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust!” (Psalm 72:8-9)

What is the goal of the Lord? Is it not that the nations live in peace with each other and that their people love one another as neighbors? Is this not what He has said from the beginning? We are to live toward this goal, for this is the command of the Lord. It does not matter in this age what actually happens; we are to strive for what is right in the Lord’s sight knowing He will make of us what He wills if we trust in Him.

Lord help me to not get caught up in the despair of a world that is in constant conflict, but have the goal of living according to Your will. Let me learn how to press on and simply do what is right in Your sight though all I do goes down in flames. Lead me, O Lord, according to Your purpose to be the kind of person You are creating me to be, knowing that our hope is in You alone.

Lord Jesus, as You walked the earth the crowds gathered around You in hope. Then You were crucified and they scattered. Help me to see the simple truth that You are up to bigger things than we can at first see that I may not become disappointed at what I think are setbacks. Grant the ability to persevere that I may continue to fight the good fight of faith knowing the Father’s will is being done. Amen.

“May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations! May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth! In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!” (Psalm 72:5-7)

Have compassion on those who do not know the Lord. The Lord desires that none would perish. Those who act wickedly do not know what they are doing. This is no excuse, but the truth. In the Lord, there is love and love covers a multitude of wrongs. The righteous do flourish and the wicked will perish. Live the way life is meant to be lived and be blessed by the Lord.

Lord there are those who do wrong and I react with anger. Lead my heart to be compassionate, gentle, and caring. Teach me what to do in every circumstance, knowing that in all I do, You are to be praised. Lord, water the earth with Your goodness and bring to peace those who do not know it, that we may live in peace and be content in the circumstances in which You have placed us.

Jesus, from the cross You said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Help me as one who does not know what He is doing to take Your hand and follow wherever You lead. Help me grow in wisdom and lead me in Your righteousness. Grant me a heart of compassion by which I do not see enemies, but only those who do not yet know You. Amen.

“Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness! May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!” (Psalm 72:3-4)

The world has always been filled with those who take and oppress. They do these things and twist words to proclaim that it is good. The Lord gives to all freely and takes care of the orphan and widow. The wicked look at the exception and say God is not good. They lift up that exception to say they are good. See through the lies in this world to perceive how the Lord does provide for all every day.

Lord open my eyes to see through all of the garbage that gets thrown around to see clearly that this world that You have made provides for us all. The wicked one perverts truth and people run amok with lies; but guide me into truth that I would see through the lies and humbly share with others what You have given to me. You are the eternal prosperity for all. Lead me into You.

Lord Jesus, You came humbly into the world to show goodness and mercy and to make possible the eternal salvation for all. You healed the sick, bound up the broken hearted and raised the dead. Let me see and rejoice in the provision You give that I may fill my days with praise and thanksgiving. Lead me, Lord Jesus, into the new life You have given me to help others as You have helped me. Amen.

“Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice!” (Psalm 72:1-2)

Lord, the nations battle one against the other. Peoples vie for power. Bring justice that the nations may live in righteousness. Unless the Lord influences the kings and rulers, there will be war and destruction. The poor suffer and innocent children are murdered. The cry for justice has always been present in this age of wickedness. Bring righteousness to those who lead.

Lord, I hear Your Word which speaks of it getting worse before the end. I do not want to experience the suffering of wicked rulers. I do not want my children or grandchildren to suffer. Lord, everything is in Your hands, but do bring to power those who will not bring mass destruction and ruin among the nations. Lift up rulers that benefit the people, the poor, and the children.

Lord Jesus, You came at a time when the rulers were wicked and turned a blind eye to the thievery that was all around. You know corruption and have seen it over the ages. Help me trust that where we are today is in the Father’s will and that I am still able to do my part. Where it befits Your purpose, bring those who lead into Your will and not the will of this age, so that all may see glimpses of Your goodness. Amen.

“My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed. And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long, for they have been put to shame and disappointed who sought to do me hurt.” (Psalm 71:23-24)

This world is filled with vanity and the patterns, though they appear different, are the same. People do unjustly and then scream at others, vying for power and do injustice themselves. Do not be caught up in the wickedness, but come to the One who is just and will make all things the way they have always been intended. Look to the Lord and your life will be one of praise and thanks amidst the turmoil.

Lord, the world is crazy and the people scramble around in hypocritical fashion chanting this, that, and the other thing. I have been caught up in the nonsense. Free me from the merry-go-round of insanity to live as You created life to be lived. Lead me in Your ways of living that I would know the joy of Your creation according to Your will. You will vindicate the persecuted.

Lord Jesus, You have come to make all things new. Guide me, O Lord, to see in You the hope of glory that You have revealed and the way of life that You alone have shown me. Guide me according to the Father’s will to see the hope that You have given by grace that I might live therein. Let me be at peace amidst the turmoil of this world, looking to You for all things. Amen.

“You will increase my greatness and comfort me again. I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.” (Psalm 71:21-22)

Greatness is not wealth or power, but humbleness, peace and walking faithfully with the Lord. He frees us to be joyous in His creation and calls us to walk with Him all of our days. Come to the Lord and walk humbly with your God. Sing your praises and let your life be an instrument that makes music to the Lord. Learn to walk in the way of faithfulness and know that God is Your comfort.

Lord, the world beats me down and I am constantly barraged with the nonsense of this age. Clear my mind and set before me a path that I can walk which will bring me close to You. Clear my eyes to see the beauty of the earth and help me overcome the wiles of the wicked one. Set me free from the bondage of this age to be Your faithful servant, walking in the light of Your glory.

Lord Jesus, You have forever set me free from the bondage of death that sin brings, yet unrepentant sinners remain all around me. Help me focus my eyes to see in You the hope of glory that You have brought for those who love the Father through You. Guide me in the way of peace and illumine my footsteps to walk in the direction Your Spirit leads me. Help me learn from You faithfulness. Amen

“Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you? You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again.” (Psalm 71:19-20)

The world continues on its course of rebellion and the righteousness of the Lord shines in the minority position in this world. God, who made everything, holds all things together and allows the seasons to proceed. Nations rise and kingdoms fall, but the Lord is forever. In whom will you trust? Who is your hope and your rock? The Lord will raise up in Him those who will be righteous.

Lord, I get caught up in the insanity of this age and get carried away by the vanity that never changes. But here You are in the midst of it all showing Your goodness and mercy. Lead me, O Lord, to hold fast and stand firm in Your goodness that I would walk humbly with You and learn Your ways. You have already made me rise in the hope of that final day when I shall rise again as Christ arose.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way and You are the example of the promise fulfilled. Help me now and always to look to You first and above all things. Teach me Your ways day in and day out that I would see the great things You have done and know Your promises from my heart. Guide me, O Lord, so I may walk in Your ways and know the truth You reveal. Amen.