Listen

Listen to what’s right, Lord; pay attention to my cry! Listen closely to my prayer; it’s spoken by lips that don’t lie! My justice comes from you; let your eyes see what is right! You have examined my heart, testing me at night. You’ve looked me over closely, but haven’t found anything wrong. My mouth doesn’t sin. But these other people’s deeds? I have avoided such violent ways by the command from your lips. My steps are set firmly on your paths; my feet haven’t slipped.

Psalm 17:1-5

Think

Have you had the experience of feeling surrounded by people who did not like you and treated you badly? Do you know what it is like to be treated unfairly although you had done nothing to cause harm to others? Have you had the misfortune to experience teasing, bullying, or violence because of your race, gender, or sexual orientation? Are there “mean girls” or “bad boys” at your school who have targeted you or people you care about for humiliation and abuse? Have you sought help from adults who didn’t help enough to make it stop or show you that they really cared?

In times like these, where can you find the hope to not become discouraged, and instead say to yourself, “I’m so glad troubles don’t last always”?

In this Psalm, David cries out to God in song to find the courage to not live in fear of his haters. He needs the strength to stay on the right path, and the wisdom to not return evil for evil.

Kamal Hassan

Pray

God, when I am faced with oppression and injustice let it not surprise me or deter me from living a God-centered life.

May I find a way of swimming against the tide of evil and harm that makes me stronger.

Let me not return evil for evil, because an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.

Amen.

Go

Walk humbly with your God

On paths not rutted from overuse

Walk toward people not of your kind

Walk with Jesus

And you will never walk alone