Faithful God
Opening Prayer
Review the last few days. How has your relationship with God been? Full of faith? Or sometimes a little unsure?
Read Psalm 71:1-24
[1] In you, LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. [2] In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear to me and save me. [3] Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. [4] Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel. [5] For you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth. [6] From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you. [7] I have become a sign to many; you are my strong refuge. [8] My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long. [9] Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone. [10] For my enemies speak against me; those who wait to kill me conspire together. [11] They say, “God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for no one will rescue him.” [12] Do not be far from me, my God; come quickly, God, to help me. [13] May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace. [14] As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. [15] My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long- though I know not how to relate them all. [16] I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone. [17] Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. [18] Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come. [19] Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, you who have done great things. Who is like you, God? [20] Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. [21] You will increase my honor and comfort me once more. [22] I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel. [23] My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you- I whom you have delivered. [24] My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Where in these verses does the psalmist show confidence in God?Some days we are full of confidence. God seems very close, faith is strong and anything seems possible. Other days are full of questions and doubts. We wonder where God is and what he is doing. On the worst days we wonder whether he exists at all, and then we worry about our inconsistency. Are we getting something wrong? Are we failing God? Some psalms, like this one, express similar feelings. The psalmist looks back to what God has done in the past (5,6, and 17). He has been a source of strength and hope. This gives the writer confidence now, at a time when he is under pressure and afraid. Life is tough, but he believes that God will rescue him again (7,14,20,21). In the tough times we can remember what God has done and focus on his character. Look through the psalm again and see what aspects of God’s character you find. It seems that the writer is facing the fears of old age. But God doesn’t change; he helped then and he can help now. He can always help, whatever the cause of our fears.
Apply
Where are you right now? Full of confidence and hope? Struggling with doubt and fear? Focus on God and praise him!
Closing prayer
Saving God, I do struggle; I do lack confidence. May Your Holy Spirit provide me with generous portions of trust and faith.
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