“In the day when I cried You answered me and strengthened me with strength in my soul.”
Psalm 138:3
When we know He knows the future and has promised to supply our needs (Phil. 4:19), we need not fear what comes our way—for He will lovingly guide us in the right Path (Prov. 3:5-6).
A new year has dawned. 365 days of “the unknown.” What will it bring? Joys? Or sorrows? Victories? Or defeats? Prosperity? Or poverty?
Today’s Manna is both an insightful and inspiration one, as well as an instructional one—for it reminds us of the importance of “praising God with our whole heart” (v.1) and “worshipping Him toward His Holy Temple (in Heaven) as we praise His Name for His Lovingkindness and Truth” (v.2).
Now, if we’re honest, we’ll confess that this doesn’t come easily, especially when things are falling apart. We tend to look more under the “microscope of misery” than we do the “telescope of praise” (I Pet. 1:9). But, by faith we must will ourselves to “praise God with our WHOLE heart,” not just part of it. And, we must also will ourselves to “worship and praise Him because of His steadfast Love and Mercy that are always rooted in Truth.”
That’s why David said, “In the day when I cried You answered me.” This wasn’t a casual cry of irritation; it was a deep, heartfelt cry of desperation. It’s the cry that erupts from the depths of our soul when we find ourselves at “Wit’s End Corner. . .reeling to and fro like a drunken sailor . . .whose soul has melted within him” (Ps. 107:26-27). Until we reach that point, we likely won’t cry out to God the way we need to, for we’ll still be trying to make it on our own and depending on our own resources.
How wonderful to read that “in that day”. . .the day we “cried out to the Lord”. . .like a desperate, drowning man at sea. . .that He “heard that cry, brought us out of our distresses (Heb. ‘metsuqah’—‘anguish, narrowness in trouble, etc.’), made the storm a calm, calming our soul as He brings us to our desired Haven” (Ps. 107:28-30). . .which is close to His loving heart. Hallelujah!!
Aren’t you thankful for this, dear Pilgrim?
Aren’t you glad that the Lord knows all of your needs. . .the number of hairs on your head (Mt. 10:30). . .the number of tears you’ll shed and “catches them in His Bottle as He writes them in His Book” (Ps. 56:8—KJV). . .and has promised to “guide your path this year as you trust in Him with all your heart and don’t rely on your own understanding” (Prov. 3:5-6)?
If so, why not pause right now and give Him thanks? And, also thank Him for the assurance that even though you may “walk in the midst of trouble in the coming year that He will continue to revive you and save/secure you by His right Hand” (Ps. 138:7). Remember: He will “perfect that which concerns you,” Pilgrim, and “will not abandon what He’s started in you” (v.8; Phil. 1:6). Amen and amen.
January 2, 2012
