How Do I Pray When I Want Justice? (Psalm 35) | Daily Devotional & Bible Study

In this episode we look at Psalm 35, where David asks God to step in against people who were attacking him. It can be hard to hold both a longing for justice and a call to forgive. David shows us how to bring those raw feelings to God and still praise Him while we wait for Him to make things right.

"And my tongue shall declare Your righteousness And Your praise all day long." (Psalm 35:28)

Questions this episode answers

Is it okay to ask God for justice?

Yes. David asks God to fight for him in Psalm 35, and Scripture tells us God is a just judge. Asking Him for justice is a way of trusting Him with the outcome instead of taking revenge ourselves (Romans 12:19).

How can I forgive someone and still want justice?

Forgiveness means releasing the debt to God, not pretending the wrong never happened. You can let go of bitterness and still trust God to deal with evil in His way and His time.

What should I do with angry feelings in prayer?

Bring them to God openly, as David did. Then, like David at the end of Psalm 35, turn your heart back toward praise for who God is.

Links

Psalm 35 is a prayer to carry slowly, and that kind of unhurried time in the Psalms is what our contemplative Bible Study Live retreat in Maui is made for.

Bible Study Live is a small-group Bible study trip with Rachael Groll. Study Scripture where it happened in Rome, or slow down for a contemplative Bible study retreat in Maui. Dates and details at BibleStudyLive.org

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