Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

May 25– Morning

 by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“[Lord], don’t turn away from me.” 

—Psalm 38:21

 

Sometimes we ask God not to turn away from us in the hour of trial and temptation, but we forget that we need to pray this at all times. There is no moment of our life that can go without his constant, upholding care. Whether in light or in darkness, in communion or in temptation, we need to pray just as much, “[Lord], don’t turn away from me,” and “Hold me up, and I will be safe.”

A child learning to walk needs the constant help of his mother. A ship left by the captain easily drifts off course. We cannot make it without continued aid from above; so, let it be your prayer today, “[Lord], don’t turn away from me, or I will fall by the hand of the enemy. Shepherd, don’t abandon your lamb, or he may wander from the safety of the fold. Great Gardener, don’t ignore your plants, or they will wither and die.

Lord, don’t leave me now or ever. Don’t abandon me in my joys, or they may steal my heart. Don’t leave me in my sorrows, or I may complain against you. Don’t leave me in my repentance, or I may lose the hope of pardon and fall into despair, and don’t leave me in the day of my strongest faith, or it may degenerate into presumption.

Don’t turn away from me for any reason because without you I am weak, but with You I am strong. Don’t leave me alone, for my path is dangerous, and I need your guidance. “Don’t be far from me, Lord, for trouble is near, and there is no one else who can help.” O God, don’t turn away from me! [M&E]