How Long?

Couldn’t this Psalm of David describe our own thoughts on some days? Have we not asked the same questions? Have there been times when we felt that we had been forgotten? That God was looking the
other way? That we were in a struggle, totally alone? Heartsick and weary?

Perhaps the battle was from within us or coming toward us. Times when victory seemed to be the last result we expected. Difficult days when our experience left us feeling hopeless. The enemy seems to be winning.

But wait! Our enemy is also our God’s enemy. He was cast out of heaven and dashed to the earth by our God. He found our first parents there in the garden. He convinced them to do exactly that one and only thing that God asked them not to do (Genesis 2:17). Just one tree out of all the trees in the garden…do not eat the fruit. We must deal with the workings of evil. So, it is here. It seems to have progressed to new levels. Horrific new levels.  What do we do now?

Thought For Today:
Shock can be a good thing. Complacency?  Not an option for a believer. We have the word of God in front of us. We have our life experiences to bolster us. We are to stand for something instead of fall for anything (I Corinthians 10:12). We are to be in the world but not of, the world (John 15:19). Sitting quietly, sheltered and uneffected by changes in our culture is not what that means. We are to be warriors in our world. Warriors of prayer, readers of the word, voices in the darkness, light on the cloudy days. Beacons of hope. Yes, we have hard times, perhaps we are in the midst of trouble now. Yet, we have experienced the grace of Jesus and the goodness of God who will bring us through. That needs to be shared with those who have lost all hope.

King David writes that he will trust, rejoice and sing because the Lord was good to him. When evil sees who our trust is in, that we are able to rejoice and sing praises in spite of the terror by day and the darts that come unexpected into our lives, he flees. He is master of hit and run troublemaking. The name above all names…Jesus, Jesus, Jesus causes our enemy to flee to dark corners in fear and trembling (Mark 5:7). That name means nothing but defeat to our enemy. He may seem to rally at times but there is a meeting coming. A day of reckoning. A big day for believers. We know who wins. Be strong and of good courage. Let us sing praises to God because He has been good to us.

Scripture For Today:

Psalm 13:1-6
1 O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?

How long will you look the other way?

2 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?

3 Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!

Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.

4 Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”

Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love.

I will rejoice because you have rescued me.

6 I will sing to the Lord

because he is good to me.

Prayer For Today:

Hello Father! Strengthen us with courage. Bring us through our days of trouble and fear. Empower us to trust, rejoice, sing and share Your goodness. Bring to our minds the many times You have rescued us from the snares of the enemy. Remind us who we are. We are Your beloved!  Forgive us of our sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.