As your Word says, Lord,

“The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever more brightly till the full light of day.

But the path of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble” (Pro. 4:18,19).

+You are our Light, our Refuge, calling us to your arms, to your lap, to your embrace.

+You are our Fortress, calling us to safety behind your walls of truth and power.

+You are our Deliverer, calling us to worship and obedience as our God, our final Authority, our King.

+You are the Righteous One who has the right to rule—and who imputes your righteousness to us, protecting us from the wrath to come, sheltering us from the evil around us and in us.

You are thorough, you are wise, you are persistent: protecting us and providing for us even when we protest against your profound and perfect Word. You keep on working, bringing us to repentance, bringing us to your refuge, bringing us to transformation.

From within your protection, we will see the downfall of those who refuse your invitation, who decline to obey you. As we stay in your shelter, true harm, true evil (that which will damage us spiritually) will not come to us, for you, Lord God, will work out all that is needed for our safety: “If you say, ‘The LORD is my refuge,’ and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you…” (Ps. 91:9,10).

I exalt you today, O Eternal Lord of creation and God of graciousness, who rules forever in complete goodness, out of unending love and with deep wisdom. You are worthy of worship, praise, honor and obedience, Glory be to you!