Focus
Slow your breathing and become aware of the taking in and letting out of your breath. Focus on putting things aside so you will be open to what God is saying to you today.
Read
Psalm 20
Prayer for Victory
To the leader. A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
The name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary
and give you support from Zion.
3 May he remember all your offerings
and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices. Selah
4 May he grant you your heart’s desire
and fulfill all your plans.
5 May we shout for joy over your victory
and in the name of our God set up our banners.
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.
6 Now I know that the Lord will help his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with mighty victories by his right hand.
7 Some take pride in chariots and some in horses,
but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God.
8 They will collapse and fall,
but we shall rise and stand upright.
9 Give victory to the king, O Lord;
answer us when we call.
Reflect
The first five verses of this psalm read like a blessing you might give to your graduating child, a friend on her birthday, or any other time when you want to wish good things for someone you love. We want our loved ones to have the desires of their hearts, the protection of God, and victory in all things.
Then comes verse 6: “Now this I know. The Lord gives victory to His anointed.” The psalmist has moved from wishful, prayerful thinking into certain knowledge. The rest of the chapter is a reminder that all those aforementioned blessings will come to “His anointed.” So, who is that?
When this was first sung, it was likely referring to the king. Now, though, we have a different idea of who is anointed. 1 John 2:20 tells us we have “an anointing by the Holy One.” Believers are “His anointed.” May we walk in that reality and live as His people, in victory.
Pray
Holy One, we thank you for your anointing us with your Spirit. May we live as blessed victors in this world so that others will be drawn to you. Amen.
Go with God.
