Sunday 27 January, 2019

1 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing your praise. 2 I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness, for you have so exalted your solemn decree that it surpasses your fame. 3 When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me. 4 May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord, when they hear what you have decreed. 5 May they sing of the ways of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord is great. 6 Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar. 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me. 8 The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands.

I love how in 8 succinct verses, so much can be packed in about the character and nature of God. God who has unfailing love and goodness. God who has all surpassing decrees. God who answers our prayer and so emboldens us. God whose glory is great. God who looks kindly on the lowly. God who keeps the proud far. God who preserves our lives in the midst of trouble. God who stretches his hand out against our foes. God whose right hand saves us. God who vindicates us. God, whose love endures forever.

One thing is clear – the psalmist spends most of his time knowing, remembering and declaring who His God is. Even in writing down a summary of these insights, I feel faith, confidence and strength rise within me.

There is such power in reminding myself of who my God is. It’s so easy to simply remind myself of all my problems, projects and needs. But David (author of the psalm), who surely would have had all of the above in truckloads, spends his time here on who God is. The powerful truth implied here is this – if you know who it is that is with you, you know who you’ve got with you for all the problems, projects and needs of life. And that changes everything. Your perceptions of the problems, the power with you for the projects, and the provision you can access for the needs. The bottom line for me is simply – don’t start with what you need to do or solve, start with who it is who is with you!

Lord, help me live the flip here. From starting my day, the way I pray and the way I think about life in what I need to do or solve…to starting the day with who you are. And then moving into the do and solve with you, strong in me!

Written by Ps. Rob Waugh