Forgotten No More, part 1

Yesterday I was looking at "K's" face in the SA paper and was trying to think of a word to describe the expression on her face. It was more than sad. The word that came to my mind was "forgotten". She looks like she feels forgotten. So, I started praying for her. That she would know that she is not forgotten.

Later in the night I was reading Psalm 10 during my time with the Lord. What word do you think shows up in that poetic passage? Forgotten. But it says so much more and I found it the perfect passage on which to reflect and pray as I thought of "K" and the enemy's plan for her vs. God's plan for her. Read for yourself the power in that passage and when you read the words "wicked man" think "Satan" and when you read "helpless, weak, victim" think "K" or "orphan"  --especially from verse 8 on.

Psalm 10:
Why O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. He boasts of the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord. In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. His ways are always prosperous; he is haughty and your laws are far from him; he sneers at all his enemies. He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me; I'll always be happy and never have trouble." His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue. (VERSE 8) - He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent, watching in secret for his victims. He lies in wait like a lion in cover; he lies in wait to catch the helpless, he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net (think of "K's" face in the picture. Doesn't she look like she feels "dragged into his net"?) (and, btw, I do not mean that her orphanage is that net - I just mean her state of loneliness and despair). His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength. He says to himself, "God has FORGOTTEN; he covers his face and never sees." (I think Satan and his demons whisper such falsehood into the ears of orphans all over this world, everyday. BUT HE IS WRONG!) (Verse 12)- ARISE, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God. DO NOT FORGET the helpless. Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, "He won't call me to account"? But you, O God, DO see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; YOU ARE THE HELPER OF THE FATHERLESS. Break the arm of the wicked and evil man; call him to account for his wickedness that would not be found out. The Lord is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, DEFENDING THE FATHERLESS AND THE OPPRESSED, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more!"

When I read this passage I knew how to pray.. that "K" would know that God has NOT forgotten her, no matter how lonely she may feel right now; no matter what she hears the enemy say; no matter how long it takes for her to come home. She is NOT forgotten! And furthermore, God has not forgotten the enemy either and he WILL be held accountable. Our God is a just God! Until his justice comes fully, may "K" be given extra strength to stand up to the wicked ways of the enemy. This is how we need to pray for "K" and for every orphan. Oh God, be the lifter of the orphan's head.