Psalms 3:2,3

Many there be which say of my soul,

There is no help for him in God. Selah.

But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me;

my glory, and the lifter of my head.

Meditation:

When recently have I experienced God as a shield? Can this

imagery be helpful for me today?

Affirmation:

My defender is God.

Prayer:

I am in awe, Lord, of the glory that you share with all people,

no matter what their circumstances.

Job 31:28-30

This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge:

for I should have denied the God that is above, If I

rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me or lift

up myself when evil found him: Neither have I

suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse on his soul.

Meditation:

What is my usual reaction to the person who does me harm?

Affirmation:

I cherish God and wish no harm.

Prayer:

O Holy One, please calm my soul and hold me close when I am tempted

to curse my enemy.

Job 30:25

Did I not weep for him that was in trouble?

Was not my soul grieved for the poor?

Meditation:

Who created the compassion in Job's heart?

Affirmation:

I take time to feel the troubles of others.

Meditation:

Thank you, God, for your servant Job's concern for the troubled and

the poor. Thank you for all souls who respond with feeling to those who are in trouble.

Job 12:9,10

Who knoweth not in all these (creatures) that

the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In

whose hand is the soul of every living thing,

and the breath of all mankind.

Meditation:

How do I respond to the thought that every living thing has a soul,

a soul which is in the care of God?

Affirmation:

My God is large enough to care about every living thing on the earth.

Prayer:

I praise You and wonder about You, Creator God, for all your involvement

in your Creation.

Job 9:20,21

If I justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me:

if I say, I am perfect, yet would I not know my soul:

I would despise my life.

Meditation:

How does perfectionism keep me from knowing my own soul?

Affirmation:

I enjoy freedom from self-justification.

Prayer:

Father God, please forgive my arrogance in having thought that I

could judge or justify my own soul.

1 Kings 17:21-22

And he (Elijah) stretched himself upon the child

three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, O my God,

I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.

And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah, and the soul

of the child came into him again, and he revived.

Meditation:

How could the man of God bring the child's soul back into his body?

Affirmation:

God has all the power over life and death.

Prayer:

I am completely in awe of your power, Lord God; and I praise

you for your supreme will in every situation.

1 Samuel 25:29

Yet a man is risen to pursue (you David)

and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my

lord shall be bound in a bundle of life

with the Lord thy God...

Meditation:

When recently have I felt very close to God?

Affirmation:

Life with God is my reality.

Prayer:

In closeness to you my Lord is the experience of living; and I give

you thanks for every breath.