Praying for Women in Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, and Romania

Dear friends,

This month I have been meditating on the wonderful character and deeds of God. In Psalm 9 we see King David speak about God as our righteous judge. In the psalm, David praises the Lord for revealing His righteousness in judging the wicked nations. Then as he prays for new opportunities to remember God’s mercies, David is confident of God’s continued judgment on the wicked and of freedom for those who are oppressed and suffering.

David begs God to come quickly and show his holy power and rule over the wicked nations. He then moves on to pray that God would remember David’s suffering and pain and give him even more reasons for praising the Lord.

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.

My enemies turn back; they stumble and perish before you.

For you have upheld my right and my cause, sitting enthroned as the righteous judge.

You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name for ever and ever....

Lord, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,

that I may declare your praises in the gates of Daughter Zion, and there rejoice in your salvation. - Psalm 9:1-5, 13-14

Yet even in the midst of a wicked nation and wicked people, David reminds us that:

God is a stronghold (place of protection) for the oppressed.
He does not forsake those who seek him.
He does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done.

For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted. - Psalm 9:9-11

Let us, who know him, put our trust in him and take our prayers to the Lord knowing and believing today that he hears our cries and will not ignore the cries of those in pain. God is our righteous judge and Jesus is our King. Today we can have hope!

God bless you,

Dr. Peggy Banks