Daily Affirmations - Day 6 - Free Indeed - From the Snare

Day 6: From the snare

My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only He will release my feet from the snare

Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared (Proverbs 3:25-26).

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Our Father and God, You are sovereign over all the affairs of the universe, known and unknown. You have established Your throne in heaven, and Your kingdom rules over all (Psalm 103:19). You rule over the surging sea... The heavens are Yours, and Yours also the earth; You founded the world, and all that is in it (Psalm 89:9,11). And You, Most High God, rule over all the kingdoms of men (Daniel 4:17).

This, Lord, is the perspective from which You ask us to pray, from which You ask us to view the events and circumstances of this world. From ancient times You have challenged Your people to remember that You are infinite, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-sufficient:

‘I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please’ (Isaiah 46:9-10).

And though the times You have allotted to humans march on; though kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall, You remain the same— You do not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17). No wonder You admonish and encourage us throughout Your word to fix our eyes on You!

In our day, the shifting is seismic. We are witnessing— literally and figuratively— the earth give way, and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea... the waters roar and foam, and the mountains quake with their surging (Psalm 46:2-3).

It is easy to become mesmerized, morbidly fascinated, overwhelmed. Help us instead to "be still and know that [You are] God" (Psalm 46:10). Release us from the snares of distraction, overload, anxiety, fear, paralysis, depression, despair. Help us fix our eyes on You, so that we can pray for others, and share with them the hope, comfort, and peace You give to us.

When we are tempted to worry and fret, remind us of the gentle question posed by our Lord, "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life" (Matthew 6:27)? Remind us of the psalmist's challenge to his own disquiet, "Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me…" (Psalm 49:5).

And remind us of Your precious promise— that You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You (Isaiah 26:3).

Drop Thy still dews of quietness,

Till all our strivings cease;

Take from our souls the strain and stress,

And let our ordered lives confess

The beauty of Thy peace.

~ John G. Whittier, 1872

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