Wednesday 5 March, 2014

1 God, we have heard what you did. Those who came before us have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago. 2 With your powerful hand you drove out the nations. You settled our people in the land. You crushed the people who were there. And you made our people do well. 3 They didn’t win the land with their swords. They didn’t gain success with their powerful arms. Your powerful right hand and your mighty arm gave them success. You looked on them with favor. You loved them. 4 You are my King and my God. You give success to the people of Jacob. 5 With your help we push our enemies back. By your power we walk all over them. 6 I don’t trust in my bow. My sword doesn’t bring me success. 7 But you give us success over our enemies. You put them to shame. 8 All day long we talk about how great God is. We will praise your name forever. Selah 9 But now you have turned your back on us and made us low. You don’t march out with our armies anymore. 10 You made us turn and run from our enemies. They have taken what belongs to us. 11 You handed us over to be eaten up like sheep. You have scattered us among the nations. 12 You sold your people for very little. You didn’t gain anything when you sold them. 13 You have made us something that our neighbors laugh at. Those who live around us make fun of us and tease us. 14 The nations make jokes about us. They shake their heads at us. 15 All day long I am reminded of my shame. My face is covered with it 16 because of those who laugh at me and attack me with their words. They want to get even with me. 17 All of this happened to us, even though we had not forgotten you. We had been true to the covenant you made with us. 18 Our hearts had not turned away from you. Our feet had not wandered from your path. 19 But you crushed us and left us to the wild dogs. You covered us over with deep darkness. 20 We didn’t forget our God. We didn’t spread out our hands in prayer to a strange god. 21 If we had, God would have discovered it. He knows the secrets of our hearts. 22 But because of you, we face death all day long. We are considered as sheep to be killed. 23 Lord, wake up! Why are you sleeping? Get up! Don’t say no to us forever. 24 Why do you turn your face away from us? Why do you forget our pain and troubles? 25 We are brought down to the dust. Our bodies lie flat on the ground. 26 Rise up and help us. Save us because of your faithful love.

This Psalm is so liberating! Why? Because it convinces me that our Father God wants us to be completely honest or open with Him. He doesn’t want us to suffer on our own or to pretend that we can hide our true emotions from Him. He wants to pour out His unconditional love on us !

The testimonies of Jesus and of other believers build our confidence, courage and our faith – as we realise that our God never changes – what He promises, He will do, absolutely! He’s done it before why not now? Stories of deliverance, victory and blessing certainly build our faith in the grace and the power of our God and yet….. what about when things don’t go our way? Bad things DO happen.  It’s true that I can’t control my circumstances, but I can control my attitude.  Remember His promises to you!

I am so encouraged to know that it IS ok to be angry, and to let it all out before Our Father God. Remember He knows everything about us – even the parts which we may be ashamed to show others. He knows, and He will make something good and beautiful, and useful and holy out of our pains, our faults, our flaws, our anger and our frustrations.

Read Paul’s letter to the Romans 8:31-39.  Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? No way! Not trouble, no bullying threats, no backstabbing, not even the worst setbacks! No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that NOTHING can separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lord I thank you that You given us freedom to be ourselves in Jesus Christ, and that Your supreme love enables me to overcome in any and every situation.

Written by Keith Bennett