March 16

Morning

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. For I am a foreigner dwelling with You, a stranger like all my fathers. — Ps 39:12 BSB

Yes, Lord, I am with You, but not yet home with You. All my natural distance from You has been removed by Your grace, and now I walk through this sinful world in fellowship with You, a pilgrim in a foreign land. You too are a stranger here in Your own creation. People forget You, dishonor You, and make laws that go against Your ways. When Your beloved Son came to this world, His own people did not receive Him. He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world didn’t recognize Him. He was the ultimate foreigner among His own. So, it’s no wonder that I, living for Him, am also a stranger here.

Lord, I don’t want to belong to a place where Jesus was an outcast. His pierced hands have broken the ties that once bound me to this world, and now I find myself a stranger here. My language is foreign to those around me; my actions seem strange, and my values are different. I could never feel at home among the sinful ways of this world.

But here’s the sweetness of my journey—I’m a stranger with You. You are my fellow traveler, my companion through it all. What joy it brings to walk alongside You! My heart burns within me when You speak to me along the way. Though I may be a wanderer in this world, I am far more blessed than those who sit in power and comfort. And with You, I am more at home than those who dwell in luxury.

Evening

Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed of great transgression. — Ps 19:13 BSB

This was the prayer of David, the man after God’s own heart. If even holy David needed to pray this, how much more must we, who are still babes in grace! It’s like he’s saying, "Hold me back, or I’ll run headlong into sin." Our sinful nature is like a wild horse, prone to running out of control. May God’s grace put a bridle on it and keep us from rushing into danger. What great sins could even the best of us commit if God’s hand didn’t hold us back? His grace and providence protect us from disasters we might not even see.

David’s prayer specifically asks for protection from deliberate, willful sin. Even the most devout believers need God’s help to avoid falling into the worst transgressions. It’s a sobering thought that even the apostle Paul warned Christians to guard against sins like lust, greed, and impurity. Do saints really need such warnings? Yes, they do! Even the purest heart, without God’s grace, could be stained by the darkest sin.

Christian, don’t boast in your experience. You could fall just as easily as anyone else if you take your eyes off Jesus, who alone can keep you from stumbling. Even if your love for God burns brightly, your faith is strong, and your hopes are high, never say, “I’ll never fall.” Instead, humbly pray, “Lead me not into temptation.” There’s enough kindling in the heart of even the best believer to ignite a fire that could burn us to the depths of hell if God didn’t extinguish the sparks.

Who would have thought that Lot, the righteous man, could fall into such terrible sin? And who could have imagined that Hazael would commit such great wickedness, even though he said he wouldn’t? May the wisdom of God protect us from the foolishness of self-confidence.