Psalm 64 A prayer for deliverance from secret enemies.   As I read this psalm I am transported back in my mind to May, 2012.  "Hide me from the secret counsel of evildoers.... who have sharpened their tongue like a sword....they aimed bitter speech as their arrow, to shoot from concealment at the blameless; suddenly they shoot him, and do not fear.  They hold fast to themselves an evil purpose; They talk of laying snares secretly;... they devise injustices, saying we are ready with a well-conceived plot.  For the inward thought and the heart of man are deep." ( v2-6)   Just over a year and a half ago, this happened to my husband. An innocent man, the kindest and most generous person I have ever known, falsely accused by anonymous complaint... in the church.  The saddest part is that those who should have defended him, did not.  I can't begin to tell you the hurt and disappointment we have dealt with these past months.  Even now, just reading this psalm brings back those feelings.
As we trust God to reveal the truth and bring the evil-doers to light, I am thankful to read the rest of this psalm: " But God will shoot at them with an arrow..."   God is not finished.  He will bring glory to Himself.  We will rejoice and be glad in Him!  He is our refuge.  He is in control.

Father, once again I pray that Your will be done and that Your Name be honored.  Give us hearts to truly forgive those who have trespassed against us.  We are willing.  You are able.  Let Your Kingdom come, Your rule and reign over all the earth!  Hear our voices and be our help.  But above all, let Your light shine in our lives so that You will receive all the glory and honor due Your Holy Name.
Amen

Matthew 3
John the Baptist preaches repentance -  "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand"  Have a change of mind, acknowledge and confess your sins.  Be real about your sins.  Call sin, sin.  Then turn away from it.  "bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance."  John baptized with water "for repentance".  A physical sign of that turning away from sin and towards God.  But he testifies of the One who is coming to "baptize ... with the Holy Spirit and fire".   "Baptize" - overwhelmed, overpowered, overturned, to cover or bury beneath, to make helpless, to be overcome.
John recognized his own need to be overwhelmed/baptized by Jesus!   Yet it is Jesus who requests John to baptize Him.  Jesus certainly had no need to repent.  But His baptism was a sign of absolute submission to the Father's will.
Jesus submitted.
The Spirit overwhelmed.
The Father was pleased.
John's baptism was important.  We must all repent and turn from our sin. But we cannot stop there.  We are taught later that we need to be baptized by the Holy Spirit. Overwhelmed by God, our Father and Jesus, our savior.
We follow His example - we submit, we allow ourselves to be overcome, overpowered, buried beneath the Holy Spirit.  This pleases the Father! Only then will we bear " good fruit".  Otherwise the warning that John gave to the Pharisees and Sadducees is also for us, " And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." (v10).

Have Thine own way, Lord.  Have Thine own way.  You are the potter.  I am the clay.  Mold me and make me after Your will. While I am waiting, yielded and still.
Amen