23I was upright before Him and blameless with Him, ever [on guard] to keep myself free from my sin and guilt. 24Therefore has the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness (my uprightness and right standing with Him), according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight. 25With the kind and merciful You will show Yourself kind and merciful, with an upright man You will show Yourself upright, 26With the pure You will show Yourself pure, and with the perverse You will show Yourself contrary. 27For You deliver an afflicted and humble people but will bring down those with haughty looks. 28For You cause my lamp to be lighted and to shine; the Lord my God illumines my darkness. 29For by You I can run through a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. 30As for God, His way is perfect! The word of the Lord is tested and tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him.31For who is God except the Lord? Or who is the Rock save our God, 32The God who girds me with strength and makes my way perfect? 33He makes my feet like hinds' feet [able to stand firmly or make progress on the dangerous heights of testing and trouble]; He sets me securely upon my high places. 34He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 35You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your right hand has held me up; Your gentleness and condescension have made me great. 36You have given plenty of room for my steps under me, that my feet would not slip.
(Psalm 18:23-36)
This is a passage I have been dwelling on lately. I really love it!
It was originally planned that I would arrive back in the States today, so I have been thinking a lot about why God has kept me here. I am still figuring it out and am coming to a place where I just want to be used by God.
I was listening to the prayer requests of the HIV positive orphans last night and my heart was completely broken. They were all asking for prayer for those who don't have food, or people they knew who were away. And one child asked to pray for him. I asked if he was sick and his reply was "No and can we pray for Haruna" (His friend who was sitting next to him). It was the sweetest thing and at that moment I felt God's heart for those children. I almost cried listening to the children pray for each other and the various Mommies or Aunties who weren't there at the moment. Oh how I love watching children love God!! It is so refreshing to my spirit!
