Prayer To Do The Right Thing No Matter What
Wednesday September 2, 2020
Sticking With What You Know To Be Right
I read a news article today that was doing a perspective piece on Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany since 2005. It was focused on her policies regarding the refugees who were coming in droves in 2015. The headline piece said, “Five years ago as more and more refugees crossed into Europe, Germany’s chancellor proclaimed, “We’ll manage this.” Critics said it was her great mistake – but she has been proved right.
One of the marks of character in a person is choosing to do the right thing when everyone else thinks you are getting it wrong. We won’t know for a while yet which of the health officials and politicians have gotten things right regarding measure related to the COVID-19 crisis but I applaud all those who with great courage have done what they knew to be best in the middle of a very fluid and dangerous situation and didn’t back down under unfair criticism.
I’m most of all thankful for the Lord Jesus Christ. I often think about how He hung on the cross and took on the sins of all humans – including those who had unfairly put him there and those who were mocking Him. Remember this part of the story?
The leading priests,
the teachers of the law,
and the older Jewish leaders
were also there.
They made fun of Jesus
the same as the
other people did.
They said,
“He saved others,
but he can’t
save himself!
People say he is
the king of Israel.
If he is the king,
he should come down
now from the cross.
Then we will believe in him.
He trusted God.
So let God save him now,
if God really wants him.
He himself said,
“ ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”
Matthew 27:41-43
By not giving in to their scorn He actually did what they thought He couldn’t do.
Today, in whatever work or community situations we find ourselves in, let’s pray to do the right thing.
Heavenly Father,
We are so grateful that You are who You are and You are a God who is righteous. You always do what is right. We can trust Your word because You won’t lead us astray. You aren’t swayed by different opinions about You at different times in history. Even though people say today that you are dead and have never existed, You still reach out to them and offer them life if they will just turn from their wicked ways and give themselves to You.
The Lord is good
and does what is right.
He shows sinners
the right way to live.
Psalm 25:8
You call us today to follow You and we know that as we do what is right we live in Your protection and You hear us and respond to us when we call out to You.
The Lord
watches over
those who do
what is right,
and he hears
their prayers.
Psalm 34:15
We don’t even always have to get it right and only history will show us when we were right and wrong, but the simple desire to know and follow You and do what is right pleased you.
The Lord always
does what is right,
and he loves
seeing people
do right.
Those who live
good lives
will be with him.
Psalm 11:7
Thank you for people like Thomas Merton who give us words in their prayer that help us pray today:
My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain
where it will end.
nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I
am following your will
does not mean
that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that t
he desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire I
in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything
apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this
you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always
Though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear,
for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me
to face my perils alone
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