GOD'S LOVING CARE
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me to the still waters,
He restores my soul.
He guides me in straight paths for his name's sake;
Though I walk through the valley of death,
I will fear no evil, for thou art with me,
Thy rod and thy staff—they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies,
Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runs over;
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
TRUSTING IN GOD'S CARE
Be not disturbed because of the wicked,
Nor be envious of those who do wrong;
For like grass they shall quickly wither,
And fade like the green herbs.
Trust in the Lord and do right,
Live in the land and act faithfully.
Then the Lord shall be your delight,
He will grant you your heart's desire.
Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust in him, and he will work with you,
He will bring to light your honesty,
And make it as clear as the noonday.
A PRAYER OF TRUST
To thee, O God, I lift up my soul,
All the day long do I wait for thee.
I trust in thee, O God, let me not be ashamed;
Let not my enemies exult over me,
And let none who hope in thee be ashamed;
But let wicked traitors be disgraced.
Show me thy ways, O Lord,
Teach me thy way to live.
Lead me in thy truth and teach me,
For thou art the God who saves me,
And in thee do I hope continually.
Remember thy tender mercies, O Lord,
And thy loving deeds, for they are eternal.
Do not recall the sins of my youth,
But in thy love remember thou me,
Because of thy goodness, O Lord.
Good and upright is the Lord,
So he teaches sinners the way,
He guides the humble aright,
And teaches the meek his way,
All his rules are loving and true,
To those who follow his law and commands.
For thy name's sake, O Lord,
Pardon my guilt, for it is great.
Who is the man that reveres the Lord?
He will teach him the way to choose.
That man shall continue to prosper,
And his children inherit the land.
He is friendly with those who revere him,
And with his covenant he makes them acquainted.
My eyes are ever turned toward the Lord,
For he saves my feet from the net.
Turn to me and be gracious,
For I am alone and afflicted;
Relieve the troubles of my heart,
And deliver me from my distresses;
Look on my affliction and suffering,
And pardon all my sins.
Consider my enemies, for they are many,
And they hate me with violent hatred;
Oh save my life and deliver me,
Let me not be ashamed, for I trust thee.
Let innocence and uprightness preserve me,
For I wait for thee, O Lord.
SAFETY IN GOD'S CARE
You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
Who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
Who say to the Lord, "Thou art my refuge,
And my fortress, my God in whom I trust,"
He will surely deliver you from the snare,
When entrapped from the destructive pit.
With his pinions he will cover you,
And under his wings you may hide.
His faithfulness is a shield and defense,
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
Nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand,
But it shall not come near unto you.
You need but look with your eyes,
To see how the wicked are punished.
Because the Lord is your refuge,
And you have made the Most High your abode,
There shall no evil befall you,
No plague come near your tent;
For he will give his angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways;
They shall bear you up on their hands,
Lest you strike your foot on a stone.
You shall tread on the lion and adder,
You shall trample on the young lion and dragon.
"Because of his love for me I will deliver him,
I will exalt him, for he knows my name.
He shall call upon me and I will answer him,
In time of trouble I will be with him,
I will deliver him and bring him honor,
With long life will I satisfy him,
And show him my power to save."