Joy Or Terror

Proverbs 21: 2, 15

Every man's way is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.
The execution of justice is joy for the righteous, but terror to the workers of iniquity.

Everyone must live with himself, so we tend to justify all our decisions, so we think we're all right. But God sees our hearts, and recognizes the selfishness and greed and deceptiveness that resides there. 

So when justice is done concerning the crimes that have been perpetrated against us all, then those who have done right can rejoice, but those who have done or agreed with the ones doing the unrighteousness and evil will fear for their own safety. 

When we allow our own hearts to lie to us, to deny the truth of our ways to ourselves, we subvert and sabotage our own successes. 

But God searches our innermost hearts and shows us the Truth of what is right and straight, and what is crooked and twisted. Then we can confess the wrongs and forsake those ways, turning to the righteous path to walk in it. 

O my Father, thank You for Your Truth, thank You for showing us what is straight, and what is crooked. Thank You for Your great Love and compassion for us to tell us ahead of time everything You are doing in this World, so we can be prepared to face each day with courage and confidence. 

Thank You, Father, for providing our every need; designing and making this Earth to produce our temporary material needs, and sending Your beloved Son to take care of our real spiritual needs. 

Thank You, Father, for leading us into Your straight paths, so that we will rejoice when true justice is administered; and not be terrorized by the prospect of being caught in our iniquities, having already turned from them and cleansed of all our stains in the Blood of Christ. 

Thank You, Father, for all that You do. Everything You do is right and just and fair. Your purposes guide Your great Plan of the Ages, and You are working out all the details using our choices. 

Father, You use the doings of both the righteous and the wicked to further Your plans. Those who choose to do right will be rewarded, and those who choose to rebel against what is good will face Your wrath. And they will be terrified to face Your justice. 

O Father, please send out workers into the fields that are even now white to harvest; send out Your under-shepherds to seek out and find Your lost sheep who have wandered into thorns and brambles and other dangers, to rescue them from being destroyed by the enemy and having to face Your wrath. 

Draw them into the safety of Your one fold and one Shepherd, to know You and love You as You love them. 

And You will receive all the credit, all the glory, all the honor, for designing and making and shaping and doing all Your will in all Creation. And Your Kingdom will never cease to increase. 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!