Today's Verse: Proverbs 20:22

Saturday, July 16, 2005

Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!" Wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
— Proverbs 20:22
Now you can listen to Today's Verse on iTunes, Spotify, Echo devices, and more!

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Vengeance is an awful and painful way to respond to those we feel have wronged us. The Lord is our assurance of genuine justice, so let's leave our being wronged to God. Let him bring justice. As the apostle Paul taught:
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. ... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:19-21)
Escalating vengeance and trying to make things "come out even" only leads to broken people and broken lives. Worse yet, it leads to broken character in us!

My Prayer...

Through your Spirit, Abba Father, please empower me to be patient as you right the wrongs and injustices committed against me and the wrongs done to me. I need the Spirit's power to overcome my desire for revenge against those who have wronged me and to have patience while waiting for you to make things right. Please help me to be more concerned about the salvation of those who may have wronged me than I am about getting even with them. Please give me more of a heart like your Son, Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

3 Related Resources by Heartlight

Proverbs 20:22
Devo: Daily Wisdom
"Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!" Wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you."
Proverbs 20:22
Devo: Today's Verse
"Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!" Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you. "
Wait for the Lord
Illustration of Proverbs 20:22
Inspirational illustration of Proverbs 20:22 -- Do not say, 'I'll pay you back for this wrong!' Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.

Illustration

Illustration of Proverbs 20:22 — Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!" Wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Saturday, July 16, 2005

Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'Bound for Rome' (Acts 26:32)
"[After Paul's defense and explanation of his innocence and ministry,] Agrippa said to Festus, "He could have been set free if he hadn't appealed to....."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'He Heard My Cry for Mercy!' (Ps. 116:1)
"I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy."
What Jesus Did!
A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
'Silent, but in Control' (Mt. 27:11-14)
"Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. "Are you the king of the Jews?" the governor asked him. Jesus replied, "You have said..."
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'Hope of the Holy' (Re. 21:10)
"And [an angel] carried me [John] away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. "

About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

More Today's Verse