8 Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies--make straight your way before me. 9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit. 10 Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you. 11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them that those who love your name may rejoice in you. 12 For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

God is our refuge, our protection and our shield. What a way to begin each morning; with the assurance that we can take refuge from whatever we may face in the day and know that we are safe. We will be protected from the array of assaults orchestrated by the devil. And we are promised that the shield of God will deflect the flaming arrows he shoots at us as well.

In the context of this Psalm, it is those who are our enemies that are the problem. Most people have others who do not like them and who would do them harm if given opportunity. It may be done in many different ways but most of us face this from time to time. When it does occur, we can know that God is our refuge. He promises that he will take care of vengeance and all we have to do is have a forgiving spirit toward our enemies, pray for them and leave the rest up to God.

Our enemy may come in the form of trials we face each day. It may be the financial reveres or the job loss. It may be the broken relationship and the harsh words that are often a result. It may be some dreaded disease, long term illness, pain or other physical ailments that afflict us. These are things that don’t seem to go away and present temptation to allow the tempter to get “inside” us and make us just want to quit. After all our praying we don’t see things changing for the better but maybe even getting worse. But we must know and believe that God is still our refuge. It is he that is giving us the grace to have the strength to carry on each day. He has put up his shield so that we are not tempted beyond what we can bear. He is using our trials today for our good, to strengthen us and to make us more like him.

O God, my Father, increase my faith. Forgive my doubts. Empower me with the presence of your Holy Spirit to be able to stand against the devil in the power of your might and your strength. In the face of tragedy, give me assurance. In the pain give me joy. In the turmoil give me peace. As I know your love and forgiveness, give me a loving and forgiving spirit so that I have no bitterness in my heart toward anyone. In Jesus’ name I pray.