I will keep Your statutes;
Oh, do not forsake me utterly!
Psalm 119:8
TAKING IT IN
Can you relate to the cry of the Psalmist?
I CAN.
In a season of great change in my life I recognize more than ever my need for God’s divine grace and presence in my life. Along with the excitement of the new adventure comes moments of loneliness and isolation I am not used to and I recognize how frail and weak I really am.
It is in those moments I can think, “God have you forsaken me?” – and I become desperate for Him to show up, to give me His strength for the journey ahead.
If it were up to me to overcome my own heart and emotions they would destroy me, but all that I know of God brings me to the place of brokenness and desperate words of
Psalm 119:8:
I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly!
It was Spurgeon who said:
“To be left, that we may discover our weakness, is a sufficient trial: To be altogether forsaken would be ruin and death.”
Where would I be without God? Where would you be without God? Are you desperate for Him – do you realize how utterly hopeless life would be without Him? Does your need for His presence drive you to your knees to pray and send you to His Word to seek Him diligently?
MAKING IT MEANINGFUL
It may feel at times that God has left but He hasn’t and in those moments it is an opportunity for us to “diligently” seek Him and allow our faith to take us to deeper places of intimacy with Him.
God’s Word in Joshua 1:5 quickly comes to mind:
No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
This desperation of heart is not for trials alone but should be our daily cry —-
“PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME TO MYSELF”
We will never know the power of His strength unless we admit our weakness! His grace is sufficient.
Look up and write down 2 Corinthians 12:9. Take a moment to be honest with God and share your weakness with Him. His grace will give you strength!
WORKING IT INTO MY HEART
I was reminded even as I wrote this devotion of a very special promise God gave me in a past season of “feeling forsaken”.
I remember weeping during worship at church and a sweet friend who was nearby came to comfort me. After church was over she brought me Psalm 138:8. Oh how it’s truth comforts my heart and causes me to rise and say ” I WILL LORD”!.
I know some of you need to be reminded today that the Lord will perfect those things which concern you! HE WILL — as we cry out desperately for Him He will not forsake the work of His hands.
Look up the different translations of Psalm 138:8. Select your favorite translation and write it out on an index card and commit it to memory. Now e-mail it or send it to a friend that needs an encouraging word. A friend that is desperate for God to show up. Remind her that He will!
As you end your time with God today remember the cry of Jesus,
“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me”?
Death was imminent….
but RESURRECTION WAS AT HAND!
