Hallelujah!!

· LET US KNEEL IN PRAYER: –

· We go straight to the Holy Book: Through Psalms 17: 1-15, 35: 1-28; and Romans 8: 31-32 (Good News Bible).

· 1) Psalms 17: 1-15: “Listen, O LORD, to my plea for justice; pay attention to my cry for help! Listen to my honest prayer. You will judge in my favour, because you know what is right. You know my heart. You have come to me at night; you have examined me completely and found no evil desire in me. I speak no evil as others do; I have obeyed your command and have not followed paths of violence. I have always walked in your way and never strayed from it.

· I pray to you, O God, because you answer me; so turn to me and listen to my words. Reveal your wonderful love and save me; at your side I am safe from my enemies. Protect me as you would your very eyes; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the attacks of the wicked. Deadly enemies surround me; they have no pity and speak proudly. They are round me now, wherever I turn, watching for a chance to pull me down. They are like lions, waiting for me, wanting to tear me to pieces.

· Come, LORD! Oppose my enemies and defeat them! Save me from the wicked by your sword… Punish them with the sufferings you have stored up for them; may there be enough for their children and some left over for their children’s children! But I will see you, because I have done no wrong; and when I awake, your presence will fill me with joy.”

· 2) Psalms 35:1-28 (Good News Bible): “Oppose those who oppose me, LORD, and fight those who fight against me! Take your shield and armour and come to my rescue.

· Lift up your spear and your axe against those who pursue me. Promise that you will save me. May those who try to kill me be defeated and disgraced! May those who plot against me be turned back and confused!

· May they be like straw blown by the wind as the angel of the LORD pursues them! May their path be dark and slippery while the angel of the LORD strikes them down!

· Without any reason they laid a trap for me and dug a deep hole to catch me. But destruction will catch them before they know it; they will be caught in their own trap and fall to their destruction!

· Then I will be glad because of the LORD; I will be happy because he saved me. With all my heart I will say to the LORD, “There is no one like you. You protect the weak from the strong, the poor from the oppressor.”

· Evil people testify against me and accuse me of crimes I know nothing about. They pay me back evil for good, and I sink in despair.

· But when they were sick, I dressed in mourning; I deprived myself of food; I prayed with my head bowed low, as I would pray for a friend or a brother. I went about bent over in mourning, as one who mourns for his mother.

· But when I was in trouble, they were all glad and gathered round to mock me; strangers beat me and kept striking me. Like those who would mock a cripple, they glared at me with hate.

· How much longer, LORD, will you just look on? Rescue me from their attacks; save my life from these lions! Then I will thank you in the assembly of your people; I will praise you before them all.

· Don’t let my enemies, those liars, gloat over my defeat. Don’t let those who hate me for no reason smirk with delight over my sorrow. They do not speak in a friendly way; instead they invent all kinds of lies about peace-loving people.

· They accuse me, shouting, “We saw what you did!” But you, O LORD, have seen this. So don’t be silent, LORD; don’t keep yourself far away! Rouse yourself, O LORD, and defend me; rise up, my God, and plead my cause.

· You are righteous, O LORD, so declare me innocent; don’t let my enemies gloat over me. Don’t let them say to themselves, “We are rid of him! That’s just what we wanted!”

· May those who gloat over my suffering be completely defeated and confused; may those who claim to be better than I am be covered with shame and disgrace.

· May those who want to see me acquitted shout for joy and say again and again, “How great is the LORD! He is pleased with the success of his servant.” Then I will proclaim your righteousness, and I will praise you all day long.”

· 3) Romans 8:31, 32 (Good News Bible): “In view of all this, what can we say: If God is for us, who can be against us? Certainly not God, who did not even keep back his own Son, but offered him for us all! He gave us his Son – will he not also freely give us all things?”

· O LORD our God, Sovereign and Living God; grant all Kenyans of goodwill greater patriotism.

· God bless Kenya and Kenyans. Amen!! Nothing to add: Enough said! Everything is in black and white. Alluta Continua.