But I will trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he has been so good to me. Psalm 13: 5-6 NLT
During the recent tornadoes that came through the south, a man in Alabama said something like this: the devil tried to take everything away from us but God provided what we needed.
In Psalm 13, it isn't clear if God has turned to answer the psalmist. Certainly, the psalmist feels rescued. But there is also a bit of unanswered prayer. The psalmist is going to trust in God's unfailing love regardless. The song to be sung to God is not because God has answered a specific request but because God has been so good to them.
Can you sing such a song in your life right now? How has God rescued you? Where has God been good to you this past week? This very day?
Spend sometime with God today listing all the good things God has done for you and giving thanks.
Amen.
Copyright 2011 Amelia G. Sims
Showing posts with label Psalm 13. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Psalm 13. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Turn and answer me!
Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the light to my eyes, or I will die. Don't let my enemies gloat, saying, "We have defeated him!" Don't let them rejoice at my downfall. Psalm 13: 3-4 NLT
First we have the complaints and pleas. Now we have the argument.
Picture this: the psalmist is arguing to God's back, trying to get God to respond. Perhaps they are hoping to get God's ire up? They reach out and pull on God's shoulder; "Look at me when I am talking to you!" the psalmist seems to say. "Give me some hope here. Stop letting those who hate me laugh at my expense. Why don't you do something so that I won't go down in complete misery?"
What time or times in your life did you feel like arguing with God? When have you ever wanted God to turn God's eyes in your direction? At what point in time did you want God to restore light to your eyes and hope to your heart? What happened? Did God listen? Or did your enemy or enemies rejoice at your misery?
God, we ask that you turn and answer us. Restore the light to our eyes, don't let our enemies rejoice over us. May we ask these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Copyright 2011 Amelia G. Sims
First we have the complaints and pleas. Now we have the argument.
Picture this: the psalmist is arguing to God's back, trying to get God to respond. Perhaps they are hoping to get God's ire up? They reach out and pull on God's shoulder; "Look at me when I am talking to you!" the psalmist seems to say. "Give me some hope here. Stop letting those who hate me laugh at my expense. Why don't you do something so that I won't go down in complete misery?"
What time or times in your life did you feel like arguing with God? When have you ever wanted God to turn God's eyes in your direction? At what point in time did you want God to restore light to your eyes and hope to your heart? What happened? Did God listen? Or did your enemy or enemies rejoice at your misery?
God, we ask that you turn and answer us. Restore the light to our eyes, don't let our enemies rejoice over us. May we ask these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Copyright 2011 Amelia G. Sims
Sunday, May 8, 2011
How Long Will You Forget Me?
O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? Psalm 13: 1-2 NLT
This is a song of lament. It makes me think of those who grieve -- when everyone else thinks a person should be over it, that person is still in the depths of their loss. The feelings are ones of isolation and loneliness. No one, not even God, understands them or what they are going through.
God, how long will you forget me and look the other way? Forever?
A person suffering from anguish deals with life on a second by second basis. What is causing the anguish is constantly in their heads and on their hearts. They struggle to make it just one more hour, one more day.
How long must I struggle? How long must I live through this sorrow each day?
Whether tragedy comes through other people, nature or even poor personal decisions, it feels as though an enemy has them in their clutches. The enemy may be real or perceived but the feelings of being held down are tremendous.
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
These questions are good ones to have when we are suffering through a terrible loss in our own lives.
God, you want to hear our pleas and our complaints as in Psalm 13. You want our true feelings to be revealed to you in our words and prayers. Thank you, God, that you can take our hurts and still hold us fast to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2011 Amelia G. Sims
This is a song of lament. It makes me think of those who grieve -- when everyone else thinks a person should be over it, that person is still in the depths of their loss. The feelings are ones of isolation and loneliness. No one, not even God, understands them or what they are going through.
God, how long will you forget me and look the other way? Forever?
A person suffering from anguish deals with life on a second by second basis. What is causing the anguish is constantly in their heads and on their hearts. They struggle to make it just one more hour, one more day.
How long must I struggle? How long must I live through this sorrow each day?
Whether tragedy comes through other people, nature or even poor personal decisions, it feels as though an enemy has them in their clutches. The enemy may be real or perceived but the feelings of being held down are tremendous.
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
These questions are good ones to have when we are suffering through a terrible loss in our own lives.
God, you want to hear our pleas and our complaints as in Psalm 13. You want our true feelings to be revealed to you in our words and prayers. Thank you, God, that you can take our hurts and still hold us fast to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2011 Amelia G. Sims
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