In Psalm 119:25, 49-50 we read these words. The Psalmist speaks to and for all of us who live this mortal life: “I lie in the dust, completely discouraged,; revive me by Your word. Remember Your promise to me, for it is my only hope. Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.”
As you, my readers, know, I am studying the book of Revelation. This last book of the Bible declares what is to come “at the end of the age.” We see God’s wrath poured down upon those who do not follow His commands and who do not worship Jesus. In this season of Lent, it is a good time to take stock of our lives, and to evaluate where we are on the road to sanctification. Are we being deceived? Are we unconcerned? Are we thinking that if we “do” all the right things our names are written in the Lord’s Book of Life? Are we lackadaisical, allowing the world’s corruption to corrupt our lives and witness? Are we believing the words of misguided preaching, ignoring reading the Bible for ourselves and developing an understanding of the truth? Are we allowing sin to remain in our lives, even to the point that when we participate in the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner? Are we allowing a “me first” entitlement to replace God first? Are we remaining illiterate when God’s Word and its teaching should be determining our life’s walk?
These are some hard questions, aren’t they? Do we see the signs that the world’s sin is overcoming God’s message? Revelation chapter 9 shows what is to come. Note, God is still sovereign and limits each of the coming horrors. And His saints know His promises.
I, for one, an thankful to God for His guidance in living life in difficult circumstances, and for being my Rock and my Redeemer. Here is My Psalm 321:
MY PSALM 321. RECOVERY
Almighty Father, Creator of All Things, Sustainer, Provider,
We praise Your Mighty, Eternal Name
When we see evidence of Your Power.
You ask Your people to pray, to pray ceaselessly,
And we are overjoyed to recognize
Your answers to prayer.
When we think of the desperate place we would be in
Without knowledge of Your grace and mercy,
We cry out in fear, unable to cope with life’s tragedies.
Yet, You seek, for Your Glory, to continue to bless us
With mercies we just simply can’t fathom.
It is with joy we see delicate infants in the womb,
Undergo surgeries and go on to live productive lives.
It is with amazement
We see bodies broken and torn in war
Brought back to us, adjusting as they must to new normal,
But able to praise Your Name with humility and honor.
And today, we rejoice that one dear to us
Is recovering from a horrendous accident
Because You will it so.
Thank You, Lord, that you calm the storms of life.
Thank You that you deter storms away from us.
Thank You for erecting strong walls of protection
Around us, winning battles we never knew existed.
Thank You for things we may never know about—
Godincidences which saved us from harm and danger
To Your honor and glory.
Forgive us when we take everyday occurrences as routine.
Forgive us when we fail to notice the nodding flower
A truly remarkable piece of creation we ignore.
We should know You provided it for us, a piece of beauty
In an otherwise chaotic rat-race day.
Forgive us for taking our health for granted
When it is You who provide each heartbeat and breath.
Forgive us for failing to hug the loved one
Who may not live to see another day.
Teach us to so number our days that we may gain wisdom,
As Your Psalmist proclaims.
Teach us to pray ceaselessly,
For we know our fervent prayers are heard
And Your miracles surround us every day.
We bow in reverence and thanksgiving. Amen.
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