My Help and My Deliverer (Psalm 40:16-17)

Today's scripture: Psalm 40:16-17

Praising God, rejoicing in Him ... one of my favorite things to do. And yet, I do often neglect to do so. It's not because I love Him any less; it's just that I get so caught up in "stuff." I was especially convicted of this very thing this morning.

Several years ago, my small group went through Francis Chan's Crazy Love, and one of the study questions asked me to "List the elements in [my] life that keep [me] distracted [from God]. List both good things and bad things." As I went through this exercise, I recognized (not that I didn't already know this) that my distractions stem from pain.

Anyone who suffers from chronic pain or ill health understands what I mean about its being a distraction. When you're hurting, often your focus is solely on "what can I do to manage this pain?" Pain can easily cause a loss of focus. So, when I'm trying to just function, just get done what needs to be done, I can lose sight of God's work in my life. I fail to fall at His feet in praise and worship.

Yet, the irony is that when I feel the worse is when I need to cling to Him the most. I need to cry out in my neediness, knowing that He is my "help and my deliverer."

I can rejoice in Him. I can magnify His name. And, in fact, if I keep my focus on Him, those things that distract me lose their hold. 

A Cry for Deliverance (Psalm 40:13_15)

Today's scripture: Psalm 40:13-15

I'm focusing on verse 13 today. Verses 14 and 15 deal with those who were "seek[ing] to destroy [the psalmist's] life," which is something that most of us don't experience. However, we have cried out for deliverance. From pain. From trials. From failing relationships. From financial difficulties.

We often need God's deliverance, and as The Message paraphrases, His "intervention."

While I don't feel attacked by human enemies or those "who wish me evil," I do know I'm in a battle. I know the enemy of my soul wants to drag me down and doubt God's love for me. Chronic pain can do that. It can make me want to give up. My health has been worse than "normal" lately. An over-flowing "plate" has brought unusual stress (good stress, but stress all the same), and that stress has caused fatigue and extreme pain. More than once, I have cried out.

I have echoed the New Living Translation's interpretation, "Please, Lord, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me." On those days when I feel alone, I may use words closer to the Contemporary English Version's, "Please show that you care and come to my rescue. Hurry and help me!"

Although God doesn't remove the pain, He does remind me of His loving presence. He does give me enough strength to accomplish what I need to ... if just for that moment or that day. He does "show that [He] care[s] ..." He does help me.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by life, then cry out to God. Cry for His rescue, for His strength, for His help. He will hear you, and He will answer.

My Deliverer (Psalm 18:37-50)

Today’s scripture: Psalm 18:37-50

Today covers a lot of verses, but I want to focus on one word: deliver.

I talk a lot about God’s grace and mercy, His everlasting love, His divine attributes. But I don’t know if I’ve looked at His being my deliver often.

I have been delivered … from so much.

Abuse. Heartache. Suffering. Pain. Uncertainty. Doubt. Rebellion. Fear.

When I look back over my 54 years on earth, I see time and again how God has delivered me. I think about how I used to do such stupid, reckless things, things that could have led to catastrophe. And He delivered me.

Most of all, He delivered me from myself. From my poor choices. From my wanting my own way.

Because He delivered me, I know I’m following His plan, fulfilling His purpose, doing His will.

And I am blessed.

Return, O Lord! (Psalm 6:4-5)

Today's scripture: Psalm 6:4-5

So far, this year of psalms has focused more on those that are uplifting. However, many of the most touching, convicting, or poignant psalms are those that are cries from the heart. Yesterday, as we began meditating on Psalm 6, we cried out along with the psalmist.

Today's verses contain both a cry for deliverance and an heartfelt plea.

We only have one life to live—and our time on earth is so very brief. As I've written a few times over the last few days, this world continues to grow ever-darker. It's difficult to imagine it getting any worse ... and then it does.

I don't know about you, but I am longing for Christ's return with everything in me. Without the hope of His return (or my leaving this earth to be with Him), I would have no hope. None at all. And so, I cry the words, "Return, O Lord, deliver me!"

Then we read that "heartfelt plea" in verse five: "... in death, there is no remembrance of You ..." I have to admit that, at first, I didn't quite get this. I believe that everyone, whether in heaven or hell, will remember God. So, I referenced one of my favorite commentaries. Although the language is older, the truth is clear. Matthew Henry writes:

Lord, if thou deliver me and comfort me, I will not only give thee thanks for my deliverance, and stir up others to join with me in these thanksgivings, but I will spend the new life thou shalt entrust me with in thy service and to thy glory, and all the remainder of my days I will preserve a grateful remembrance of thy favours to me, and be quickened thereby in all instances of service to thee but, if I die, I shall be cut short of that opportunity of honouring thee and doing good to others ... (emphasis mine)

I completely agree that, once I leave this earth, my ability to reach others for Christ is gone. I cannot influence or encourage others to know my precious Savior.

My heart is burdened for those who are seeking fulfillment in the world. With enough "stuff," they think they can find hope and peace and joy. They reject the God of the Bible and figure they'll find their own way to heaven—if they even believe in heaven. They will never know the joy of a relationship with Christ on earth.

Although I long for Christ's return and truly believe that "to die is gain" (see Philippians 1:19-21), as long as I'm living, I can "remember" God and share His truth with others.

Deliverance (Psalm 40:13-15)

Today's scripture: Psalm 40:13-15

Although today's scripture covers three verses, I'm focusing on just the first of the three. Verses 14 and 15 deal with those who were "seek[ing] to destroy [the psalmist's] life," which is something that most of us don't experience. However, we have cried out for deliverance. From pain. From trials. From failing relationships. From financial difficulties.

We often need God's deliverance, and as The Message paraphrases, His intervention.

While I don't feel attacked by human enemies or those "who wish me evil," I do know I'm in a battle. I know the enemy of my soul wants to drag me down and doubt God's love for me. Chronic pain can do that. It can make me want to give up. My health has been worse than "normal" lately. An over-flowing "plate" has brought unusual stress (good stress, but stress all the same), and that stress has caused fatigue and extreme pain. More than once, I have cried out.

I have echoed the New Living Translation's interpretation, "Please, Lord, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me." On those days when I feel alone, I may use words closer to the Contemporary English Version's, "Please show that you care and come to my rescue. Hurry and help me!"

Although God doesn't remove the pain, He does remind me of His loving presence. He does give me enough strength to accomplish what I need to ... if just for that moment or that day. He does "show that [He] care[s] ..." He does help me.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by life, then cry out to God. Cry for His rescue, for His strength, for His help. He will hear you, and He will answer.

Our Deliverer (Ps. 3:1-2)

O LORD, how my adversaries have increased!
Many are rising up against me.
Many are saying of my soul,
“There is no deliverance for him in God.” Selah.
(Psalm 3:1-2, NASB)

Have you felt surrounded by “adversaries”? Have you wondered if you would have “deliverance” from those adversaries? Have you ever cried out from the depths of your soul to God?

While I don’t have flesh-and-blood enemies who surround me, there have certainly been times in my life when the enemy of this world seems to have encamped. Too many times, I’ve listened to his whispers and felt abandoned by God. When I suffered at the hands of three abusers. When I endured the pain of infertility. Even now—every once in a while—when I sit alone in church or have a particularly bad pain day.

Have you heard the enemy’s sly lies when you’ve gone through difficult valleys? “Where’s your God now,” he taunts. “If God really loved you, you wouldn’t be experiencing [fill in the blank]. He won’t deliver you, so you’d better take care of things yourself.”

If I have learned nothing else over the years, I have learned this: God never abandons His children. There will never be a time when He won’t deliver us—eventually. He may not deliver us as quickly as we’d like, but He will always deliver. And our deliverance may not look like what we’d hoped, but He'll always deliver.

When I was trying to get pregnant, at first I prayed for just that: Lord, let me get pregnant. But then I changed my prayer: Lord, let me get pregnant or give me peace. And He delivered me from that painful situation by giving me peace.

Know this: God will never leave you or forsake you (Heb. 13:5). And He will always deliver us from our adversaries—always (Col. 1:13-14).