[Salvation]

Dearest God, protect the children!

Psalms
Chapter 50

1

A psalm of Asaph. ¹ The LORD, the God of gods, has spoken and summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.

2

From Zion God shines forth. perfect in beauty.

3

Our God comes and will not be silent! Devouring fire precedes, storming fiercely round about.

4

God summons the heavens above and the earth to the judgment of his people:

5

"Gather my faithful ones before me, those who made a covenant with me by sacrifice."

6

The heavens proclaim divine justice, for God alone is the judge. Selah

7

"Listen, my people, I will speak; Israel, I will testify against you; God, your God, am I.

8

Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you, nor for your holocausts, set before me daily.

9

I need no bullock from your house, no goats from your fold.

10

For every animal of the forest is mine, beasts by the thousands on my mountains.

11

I know every bird of the heavens; the creatures of the field belong to me.

12

Were I hungry, I would not tell you, for mine is the world and all that fills it.

13

Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?

14

Offer praise as your sacrifice to God; fulfill your vows to the Most High.

15

Then call on me in time of distress; I will rescue you, and you shall honor me."

16

But to the wicked God says: "Why do you recite my commandments and profess my covenant with your lips?

17

You hate discipline; you cast my words behind you!

18

When you see thieves, you befriend them; with adulterers you throw in your lot.

19

You give your mouth free rein for evil; you harness your tongue to deceit.

20

You sit maligning your own kin, slandering the child of your own mother.

21

When you do these things should I be silent? Or do you think that I am like you? I accuse you, I lay the charge before you.

22

"Understand this, you who forget God, lest I attack you with no one to rescue.

23

Those who offer praise as a sacrifice honor me; to the obedient I will show the salvation of God."

[MountainFlower]

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DAY 35 INTENTION
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Pray that all believers participating in this 40 Days for Life campaign will make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3).

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SCRIPTURE
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And the glory which You gave Me, I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

-- John 17:22-23

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REFLECTION by Carmen Pate, Point of View
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Christ prayed that all those who would believe in Him would be united in single purpose and spirit, just as He and the Father were united.

I find it convicting to consider that those who would run to Jesus with their sins, seeking forgiveness, and falling in love with the Savior, often run from Christians today.

Is it because they see division and dissension instead of unity and peace?

No doubt Christ is pleased to see the body unified and praying together during these 40 days.

This is exactly what we see when we read about the beginnings of the church. Both the unity and the prayer are conspicuous, along with the results of unified prayer.

Acts 2:46-47 tells us, "So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved."

No doubt the enemy is disheartened to see the unity in prayer, fasting and peaceful vigil, and he will continuously try to disrupt the bond of peace among brothers and sisters in Christ.

Let us guard our hearts and minds, exhibiting the love of Christ that He so graciously gives us, so that those watching will see the love among us and know that He must love them too!

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PRAYER
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Heavenly Father, give us grace in every situation to work toward unity. With humility, gentleness, and patience, may we endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There are hurting men and women Lord at the crossroads of life and death who are looking for love and peace in their lives.

May they see Christ in us and be drawn to the abundant life that only He can give. It is in Christ's precious name that we pray, Amen.