Verse of the Day 8/15

Psalm 118:5-6 I called to the Lord in distress;
the Lord answered me
and put me in a spacious place.^[a]

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6 The Lord is for me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

I ended the devotional on Wednesday stating that we don't need to "fret about the not yet".  Such fretting can lead to distress and  possibly to a downward emotional spiral into depression.  The psalmist shares his answer, his response to those times where he has allowed himself to fret to the point of distress.  Call to the Lord, seek Him in His Word and in prayer.  Trust Him, that He will put you in a "spacious" place, a place with a broad view, above it all.

 

The Message paraphrase to this passage starts with "pushed to the wall, I called to God".  What are some of the things that push us to the wall.  It can be finances, relationships, illness or any number of things.  Have you been through similar chapters in your life before?  What have we learned from them?  Hopefully, it is like that of the psalmist.  The Lord answered me, He is for me, I will not be afraid.

 

I'm reminded of the old hymn "Only Trust Him"

 

Come, every soul by sin oppressed,   	there's mercy with the Lord;   	and he will surely give you rest,   	by trusting in his Word.   Refrain:  	Only trust him, only trust him,   	only trust him now.   	He will save you, he will save you,   	he will save you now. 

If you are distressed or in distress, remember this and may you be able to say "God's my champion", He will turn the tide (v.16 The Message) and He will save you, He will save you now.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

Follow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

 

Psalm 118:5-16The Message (MSG)

^5-16 Pushed to the wall, I called to God;
    from the wide open spaces, he answered.
God's now at my side and I'm not afraid;
    who would dare lay a hand on me?
God's my strong champion;
    I flick off my enemies like flies.
Far better to take refuge in God
    than trust in people;
Far better to take refuge in God
    than trust in celebrities.
Hemmed in by barbarians,
    in God's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt;
Hemmed in and with no way out,
    in God's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt;
Like swarming bees, like wild prairie fire, they hemmed me in;
    in God's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt.
I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall,
    when God grabbed and held me.
God's my strength, he's also my song,
    and now he's my salvation.
Hear the shouts, hear the triumph songs
    in the camp of the saved?
        "The hand of God has turned the tide!
        The hand of God is raised in victory!
        The hand of God has turned the tide!"