PRESERVED BY PROMISES

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Remember Your word to Your servant, for You have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I do not turn from Your law. I remember, Lord, your ancient laws, and I find comfort in them. Indignation grips me because of the wicked, who have forsaken Your law. Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge. In the night, Lord, I remember Your name, that I may keep Your law. This has been my practice: I obey Your precepts.

Psalm 119:49-56

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Life can be hard and bring us difficulty that makes it hard to bear what we’re going through. It can be tough to find any sense of optimism. Things can seem dark and discouraging, bleak and dispiriting.

As we have been reading through the psalms, we have seen the psalmist in such circumstances and today’s passage reminds us of this. We read about what the psalmist was up against. He confesses he was in the midst of suffering: mocked by the arrogant and experiencing indignation from the wicked.

And yet, through all this, the psalmist professed feeling comfort and hope.

What??!! I mean, how could he do that? How could the psalmist stay so positive when his life’s circumstances were so negative?

He could because he allowed himself to be preserved by the promises found in the word of God. Indeed, God’s word is full of promises, promises He always keeps (Psalm 145:13). Consider the following and see how the psalmist could maintain and sustain consolation and reassurance in the midst of hardship:

1. He is always with us.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

There is no place we can go that God is not present. Knowing this, we have the most powerful Defender always by our side so who would we be afraid? We can stand firm when the storms of life come because we know the One who can calm the storm is right there with us.

2. He never forsakes us.

He (God) will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6b

Knowing God is always with us is critically important. Knowing He will always remain there is as well. Even when we might deserve God abandoning us, He doesn’t. Instead, He remains ever with us to help us work out our issues while at the same time leading us ever more toward the righteousness He expects.

3. He hears and answers prayers.

We are certain that God will hear our prayers when we ask for what pleases him. And if we know that God listens when we pray, we are sure that our prayers have already been answered. 1 John 5:14-15 (CEV)

When we were little, it was a comfort to know that we could call for our Dad or Mom when we needed help and they were always there to grant it. As adults, we still have that available to us. We’re just calling on our Heavenly Father for help and when we do, we have the assurance that He hears our prayers and will answer every petition.

4. He forgives.

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. Micah 7:18

Just the fact that you’re able to read this today is evidence that our God forgives. And it’s not a one-and-done kind of forgiveness. No, the Lord has forgiven us more times than we are able to count. He delights in showing us, His children, mercy and grace and, most of all, love.

5. He protects.

He (God) guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Proverbs 2:8

God is our refuge and very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). We saw earlier where He is our Defender who is always with us. So who can stand against us when we have God our Guardian with us (Romans 8:31)? The answer is no one.

6. He saves.

My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart. Psalm 7:10

The God who protects is also the God who saves us. He saves the upright in heart, the ones who place their full faith, hope, and trust in Jesus the Christ, the Savior of the world, freely given by God the Father to pay the price for our sins and in doing so, bearing the penalty that was rightfully ours.

Friends, I hope you see today that God’s word is full of promises. The psalmist knew it and we simply need to remember it ourselves, no matter where life takes us. We need to remember that God indeed is ever present, non-forsaking, prayer-answering, forgiving, protecting, and saving, in good and bad times.

In the word of God, we come into communion with God and, in doing so, experience His peace, comfort power, and promises kept. Give time to God and His scriptures daily and He will take care of you and your life now and forever.

He promised He would

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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