2 My God, I have trusted in you, Don't let me be shamed. Don't let my enemies triumph over me.
3 Yes, no one who waits for you shall be shamed. They shall be shamed who deal treacherously without cause.
4 Show me your ways, LORD. Teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth, and teach me, For you are the God of my salvation, I wait for you all day long.
6 LORD, remember your tender mercies and your lovingkindness, For they are from old times.
7 Don't remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. Remember me according to your lovingkindness, For your goodness' sake, LORD.
8 Good and upright is the LORD, Therefore he will instruct sinners in the way.
9 He will guide the humble in justice. He will teach the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth To such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11 For your name's sake, LORD, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great. [Psalms 25:1-11 HNV]
The majestic chime of London’s Great Clock of Westminster, commonly known as Big Ben, is familiar to many. In fact, some of us may have clocks in our homes that sound the same hourly chime. It is traditionally thought that the melody was taken from Handel’s Messiah. And the lyrics inscribed in the Big Ben clock room have a time significance:
All through this hour,
Lord, be my guide;
And by Thy power,
No foot shall slide.
These lyrics are a good reminder of our constant need for God’s guidance. King David recognized that he needed guidance all through the day as he faced the challenges of life. In Psalm 25 he says: “Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day” (v.5). Wanting to be a teachable follower of God, David looked to his Redeemer for direction. His heart’s desire was to wait on God with dependent faith throughout the entire day.
May this be our desire as well. Our requests for God’s help often begin the day, but then competing distractions can pull our attention away from Him. Lord, remind us to pray: “All through this hour, Lord, be my guide.”
There’s never a day nor a season
That prayer may not bless every hour,
And never a prayer need be helpless
When linked with God’s infinite power. —Morton
Let Christ be first in your thoughts in the morning, and last in your thoughts at night.
