April 4, 2015 – Saturday

Start Time: 5:38 AM

End Time:   5:55 AM

Title: Psalm 71.  

Scripture: Psalm 71:1 – 24

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ The author of this chapter was at a time of his life when he needed a Savior for the trouble that he is in.  He was pleading before God to save him and declaring that he made a decision to take refuge in God.  At times, we have this idea that God is our protector and our deliverer yet it takes our decision to make Him one.  Ultimately, He is our savior but not only we make that decision or take that step to place Him in a deliverer position or role in our lives, we are just hoping in the dark because we may be thinking God will save us and HE will but without our decision to give Him full control, then we are just refusing His help.  We are still unable to let go of the control of our lives and God has an elaborate plan to save each one of us and not until we surrender can we truly see it working in our lives. 

If we read the verses or the words this author wrote, you can clearly see him declaring his surrender by taking the decision to trust and hope in God alone.  He spoke of "i have taken refuge in the Lord", "I can go always to my Rock of refuge", "God is my hope and confidence since his youth", "I have relied on You", "I will ever praise You", "You are my strong refuge", etc.  These are all declaration of the author's total surrender to God, which all requires a decision or surrender and acceptance that God is in control.

In verse 9, the author spoke of people oppressing him and clearly, what's happening in his life then did not show victory because the people said to him that God has forsaken him.  So clearly, we can say that this author was in suffering and in deep trouble and his life seems to be going down to his defeat.  But then he spoke in reply in verse 14, which again showed his surrender and acceptance and trust in the Lord - which takes a conscious decision to do.  He said, "As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more."  Now doesn't those words require a solid decision to hold on to God even if things are just bad in his life?  Even if people already told him that God had forsaken him?  Even if things in his life seems to show that God is not around anymore?  Now that's what we call steadfastness!  That despite of what happens, despite of what may things seem to be at the moment, we hold still and onto the words and promises of the Lord - and this requires a solid decision that will show ultimate surrender of control to God and acceptance of His hands.  The author continued in verse 15 to 18, again hoping and trusting God; reminding himself of the glory and might of the Lord - all this requires a decision.

And as you can see, from verse 19 to 24, he put his words into actions.  No longer was he talking about the decisions to praise God that he consciously chose to do but he acted on it.  Because the remaining verses just spoke of praises and worship to our Almighty God!  Hallelujah!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, great and awesome God!  Thank You for teaching me what it is to be steadfast and faithful.  Lord today, I know my heart will choose to be faithful but I know myself and I know that I am weak.  That's why the decision to choose to praise You, to trust You, to surrender, to remain faithful, etc is a daily conscious decision that I have to make in my life.  I will need to declare this and stand on these choices daily with Your help.  Give me wisdom Lord to always remain humble and to choose to give up control to You at all times.  In Jesus' Name, Amen!