Keep Me

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings Psalm 17:8 (NIV) 

“Keep me” is a plea in prayer, not because God could somehow forget to keep track of us (Hebrews 6:10, Isaiah 49:15, Psalm 139, Job 23:10, John 10:28), but rather somehow we might wander from Him (Psalm 119:176, Romans 7:15).

I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied. But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds. Jeremiah 23:21-22 (NIV)

…If they had stood in my council… Dear Heavenly Father, keep me in Your council! 

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (NIV) 

In a world full of wonderful distractions it’s easy to be swayed from your greatest purpose in Christ wandering after something good. The enemy masquerades as the angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) not darkness! It’s too easy to distinguish good from evil, much harder to distinguish good from best. Satan didn’t entice Eve with eggplant back in Genesis 3 (sorry if you like eggplant) but rather a juicy sweet apple! Be alert and of a sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16 (NIV) 

Keep in the council of His Word and you will be kept in the Way that leads to life. Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NIV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 (NIV)  

…let the one who has my word speak it faithfully… Jeremiah 23:28 (NIV)