Verse of the Day 12/1

Verse of the Day 12/1

Psalm 40:10-11

Holman Christian Standard Bible

10 I did not hide Your righteousness in my heart;

I spoke about Your faithfulness and salvation;
I did not conceal Your constant love and truth
from the great assembly.

11 Lord, do not withhold Your compassion from me;

Your constant love and truth will always guard me.  

Today's verses came from the first passage that I read in my devotions this morning.  I needed to read and hear them.  Yesterday was not a good one for me, I let a lot of "little things" get to me and I reacted in anger, rage and malice in my heart.  I didn't think that it was against anyone in particular, especially God, but at the core, it was against God and it affected those who I love most.

Psalm 40 is a psalm of David, one where he feels that nothing is going right and that he is surrounded by opposition and his own "iniquities", sins had overtaken him.  What did he do?  He acknowledged it before God and called for God's deliverance in the form of steadfast love and faithfulness.  He realized that he was "poor and needy" which is the point at which we realize that we can't make it on our own, we can't climb out of the pit on our own, but need His Spirit to turn things around, turn our hearts around to realize the value of His presence and be able to rejoice and be glad in Him, and say "Great is the Lord".

It must not have been easy for David as King.  He had enemies in the form of foreign countries trying to destrou him.  He had his own children trying to take his throne.  He had temptations within his own heart and countless other things that a king had to deal with.  But being "a man after God's own heart", he knew what it was like to trust in God.  He had literally faced giants and God had delivered him and he counted on His faithfulness to deliver him from the current crisis.

If you've had one of those days, don't leave it to yourself to get out of it.  Turn to Him, pray for and count on His compassion and constant love that will lift you and guard your heart.  Share it with others, tell of His love for you even when you've been at your worst.

The Third Day version of "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" came to my mind as I was writing these words..  Here are the orignial words to the hymn. May those troubles of yesterday grow dim by the lighjt of His glory and grace.

1. O soul, are you weary and troubled?
   No light in the darkness you see?
   There's light for a look at the Savior,
   And life more abundant and free!
   • Refrain:
     Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
     Look full in His wonderful face,
     And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
     In the light of His glory and grace.
2. Through death into life everlasting
   He passed, and we follow Him there;
   O'er us sin no more hath dominion—
   For more than conqu'rors we are!
3. His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
   Believe Him, and all will be well:
   Then go to a world that is dying,
   His perfect salvation to tell!

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 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 40:8-17

Holman Christian Standard Bible

8 I delight to do Your will, my God;

Your instruction lives within me."[a]

9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;
see, I do not keep my mouth closed[b]
as You know, Lord.
10 I did not hide Your righteousness in my heart;
I spoke about Your faithfulness and salvation;
I did not conceal Your constant love and truth
from the great assembly.

11 Lord, do not withhold Your compassion from me;
Your constant love and truth will always guard me.
12 For troubles without number have surrounded me;
my sins have overtaken me; I am unable to see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my courage leaves me.
13 Lord, be pleased to deliver me;
hurry to help me, Lord.

14 Let those who seek to take my life
be disgraced and confounded.
Let those who wish me harm
be driven back and humiliated.
15 Let those who say to me, "Aha, aha!"
be horrified because of their shame.

16 Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
let those who love Your salvation continually say,
"The Lord is great!"
17 I am afflicted and needy;
the Lord thinks of me.
You are my helper and my deliverer;
my God, do not delay.