Verse of the Day and Devotion

July 19, 2018

Scripture

Vindicate me, O Lord, my God, according to your righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me! - Psalm 35:24 ESV

Devotion

Although I'm a Christian, I still sin. Nevertheless, my heart is in the right place. I'm on God's side. With His help I try to live my life according to His will and ways. If you went by the way I'm being treated, however, you'd think I was evil personified. You'd think that I deserve to be hunted down and brought low. That's what some people want for me. People that barely know me have risen up against me. They want me out of the picture. They want everything that I've built up over the years. They want, in short, my destruction.

In order to get what they want, they've made malicious accusations against me. I do not recognize the person they say that I am. They grill me for hours before those that must decide on these matters in the hope that they can trip me up. They ask me for answers on subjects about which I know little and then use my answers as ammunition for further accusations. Things that I did that were good they make out to be evil. Things for which I should be commended are twisted to make it look like I should be punished.

Worse, they take my minor imperfections and build them up out of all proportion. Indeed, they make them out to be major faults. The few times that I've stumbled are taken as proof positive that I'm unfit for my tasks. How happy they are when they find something they can throw in my face! Like sharks that smell blood in the water, they move in for the kill. They swiftly rush at me and tear at me without mercy. They don't even give me a chance to respond appropriately. They want to finish me off before I even have a chance to defend myself.

Don't let them get away with it, O my Lord! Vindicate me before the powers that be. Come to my defense and show them whose side you're on. Don't let them judge me by their selfish and self-serving standards. Instead, let me be judged by your righteousness, by your righteous standards.

Above all, O Lord, stop them from rejoicing over me! Stop them from their presumptive exultation before the matter is even settled!