Currently I am reading through Proverbs on the weekdays, and finishing my “walk through” Psalms chronologically on the weekends. Today I am gripped by God’s enduring steadfast love — his chesed (indicating kindness, lovingkindness, mercy, goodness, faithfulness, love, acts of kindness). But it is not a passive, powerless emotive “love”– God’s kindness and mercy toward me has the power to deliver and rescue!
When life is tough, when the medication doesn’t give the anticipated results, when obstacles seem higher than usual . . .God’s steadfast love endures.
Psalm 118:1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! 4 Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
God’s enduring, steadfast love means that He is HERE. He is FOR me.
5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.
6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
7 The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
When things don’t “go my way” is NOT the time to shift my focus and devise my own plans because God isn’t coming through for me (I hate even writing this because, in writing, I remember the devastation in my life that resulted from that attitude)
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.
I enjoy hymns. I have a CD that is just hymns with guitar accompaniment. When headaches are abundant, less is more . . .
14 The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
My constant prayer is that my life will not be wasted. I want people to know that Jesus is truly enough. In every circumstance. In every season of life. Enduring, steadfast love . . .
17 I shall not die, but I shall live,and recount the deeds of the Lord.
18 The Lord has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
Where is my focus? When my focus is on God’s enduring, steadfast love, His power and sovereign control, and His specific care for me — the result is thankfulness, the result is glad submission to God’s sovereignty.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord‘s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
God is God. He IS enduring love and faithfulness. Submission to His will does bring thanksgiving. But I would not know all this if I had not committed to knowing Him, loving Him, through His Word. Every day. Regardless of how I feel. No shortcuts. Rejoicing that my Sovereign Creator has, in His kindness, revealed Himself and His ways. I can know Him!
27 The Lord is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. . .
28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you.
29 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
Plea for Grace 