Day 189 - FOUNDATION STONES IN A YEAR

Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5: 8-18; Hebrews 4: 14-16; 2 Timothy 1: 8-14

Oh how wonderful is this breakthrough of faith we encounter in verse 7 of Psalm 31. The Psalmist has expressed his distress, his urgent need of the Lord’s assistance – but now, he breaks through into certainty. Yes, his God WILL help, his God IS merciful... we can feel the oppression lift and the spacious place of faith take its place. 

This is what will happen to you too as you cry out to God and declare His Word and faithfulness, as you remind yourself of who you are in God and who He has been to you and for you over your life. You will remember His great acts of deliverance and faithfulness in the past and you will break through into the spacious place of faith that can confidently declare I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy. Rejoice! Fancy that, from utter misery and despair and fear to gladness and rejoicing. 

Yes! Believe this for yourself too. Psalm 31 is a light to the feet of those who stumble in darkness and confusion. Know this, KNOW this today – you too will be glad and rejoice in God’s mercy. 

Jesus is no fair weather friend. He has known extreme stress, distress and adversity himself and he has been the one who has stood with you in your times of adversity. 

He is with you ALWAYS, even to the end of the age – and beyond, into eternity. He is the Rock under your feet, the pathway of life – not just occasionally or sometimes, but constantly. The people in our lives, even the very best ones, are inconsistent in their commitment to us. They are frail and weak themselves and often let us down. But not so with Jesus. 

He really is the friend that sticks closer than a brother. He has no problem climbing into a pit with us in order to help us out; he has no problem supporting you through any and every crisis. In fact, the Lord is the one person who can go with you everywhere. He knows your thoughts, your anguish, your fear. He knows you. And he knows your soul in adversities. 

In the words of the old, old song what a friend we have in Jesus! Oddly enough, it is so often in our times of greatest weakness that we discover this anew.

Prayer

Lord, today I choose, as much as I am able, to express gladness and rejoicing in Your faithfulness to me. Holy Spirit, give me this gift of faith today, I ask in Jesus name. Thank you Lord that you are a friend in need and a friend indeed. Today, once again, I lift up my eyes to You, my help comes from You.