In our Focal Scripture, the psalmist proclaimed that God has delivered him from the strivings of the people. The word strivings as used in that scripture comes from the Hebrew word ‘riyb’. Another meaning of ‘riyb’ is ‘controversy’. So the psalmist was delivered from a controversy that had the capacity to swallow him. The controversy was such that he needed to be delivered from. It was a controversy that wanted to ensnare him.
Friend, hear me as I hear the Lord: for every controversy that the enemy has laid on your path in 2023, I decree, the Lord has delivered you. The Lord is granting you deliverance from every controversy that wants to distract you from the journey of your greatness. The Lord is setting you from every needless embarrassment that wants to consume you and make a mess of your destiny. The Lord delivers you from every controversy that wants to put you in the news for bad reasons.
Notice that this was David’s psalm at a time that God delivered him from King Saul. David was a target for elimination despite not doing anything wrong against the king. He was caught in a controversy that would suggest that he did something, when he actually did nothing. Someone was going to have a bad name for doing nothing wrong. Hear me as I hear the Lord: every controversy that wants to make a mess of your name, it ends now.
The days of needless controversies are over. The days of negative news around you are over. The days of needless stories being told around you are over. The days of needless conflict that will not fetch you any reward, are over. The days of waking up to deal with controversies you did not generate, are over. The days of people creating needless battles for you are over. The days of walking into traps that do not concern you are over.
I lock the gates of your destiny against every controversy that the enemy wants to use and diminish your destiny. No controversy will swallow your destiny.
