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The troubles of my heart have enlarged; Bring me out of my distresses! 18 Look on my affliction and my pain, And forgive all my sins. 19 Consider my enemies, for they are many; And they hate me with cruel hatred. 20 Keep my soul, and deliver me; Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You. 21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You. 17
Redeem Israel, O God, Out of all their troubles!
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Psalm 26
Psalm 26:12
Try my mind and my heart. For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked in Your truth. 4 I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, Nor will I go in with hypocrites. 5 I have hated the assembly of evildoers, And will not sit with the wicked. 3
I will wash my hands in innocence; So I will go about Your altar, O Lord, 7 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all Your wondrous works. 8 Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house, And the place where Your glory dwells. 6
Do not gather my soul with sinners, Nor my life with bloodthirsty men, 10 In whose hands is a sinister scheme, And whose right hand is full of bribes. 9
A Prayer for Divine Scrutiny and Redemption A Psalm of David.
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indicate me, O Lord, For I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord; I shall not slip. 2 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me;
But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; Redeem me and be merciful to me. 12 My foot stands in an even place; In the congregations I will bless the Lord. 11
Throughout the many stages of my life, I’ve hung on to Psalm 27:1 as my life verse. When I left The Imperials in 1986 after twenty years with the group, I wondered what God had ahead for me and my family. I have to be totally honest and tell you that I was not at all afraid of the future. Even though I was clueless as to where God was sending me, I knew that He had already orchestrated my life; all I needed to do was follow the chart and watch the director. In 1988, Bill invited me to join The Gaither Vocal Band, which began a five-year stint and included in that time an abundance of glorious memories. Psalm 27:1 continues to give me hope that in the light of any circumstance, I can know that my God holds me and cares all about what is going on in my life. I will not fear; I will not be afraid!
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