I like the idea (the reality, for that matter) of God watching out for His children, including me.

So when the “bad people” out there plot against me, they had better watch out!

“The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken” (Psalm 9:15).

Though they may succeeed in catching me in their pit or net, they also will get stuck.

What really strikes in this verse, though, is the realization that Jesus expects me to show love, pity, mercy, and compassion to the heathen stuck in their own pits and nets.

Oh my!

I found out how tarnished my name is in some minds.

Talk about surprising! As well as eye-opening and discouraging.

Now what do I do? How do I set the record straight? How do I restore trust? How do I clear my name?

I care deeply about my name and my reputation.

But I just read a verse that reminds me I need to care about another name even more:

“O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:9).

May I “defend” His name and reputation.

May I live my life so that others attribute to Him the excellence He is due.