Stirred By The Scriptures

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:5) Those simple words of Paul are a tall order for any one on any day. Let them be the meditation of your heart as you begin this week.

I wonder what words you would use to describe your life today? There would probably be as many different descriptions as there are circumstances that we face. Personally I seldom find myself far from being in need. The idea that I am in constant need of a savior resonates deep within. So I will turn to these words from Psalm 40 as we close out another week.

“Yet I am poor and needy;
may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and delieverer;
O my God, do not delay.”

“But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation always say,
The Lord be exalted!” - Psalm 40:16

The psalmist ties some interesting thoughts together. The joy and happiness that I long for is found as I pursue seeking the Lord. I must believe that the source of my joy is God but I must also actively seek him as opposed to anything else. There are times when I am quick to say that my joy comes from the Lord and then go looking everywhere else for it. If I believe that God is truly my satisfaction then I must head in that direction.

If you have been following my blog over the last few days, you realize that Psalm 40 has captured my attention. David’s thoughts are as fresh to me as if they had been written just yesterday. Listen to his cry about life;

“For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.”

There are so many friends I know who would make that their life verse at the moment. So how do you respond? What do you say? What is the answer? David tells us what he cries out for:

“Do not withhold your mercy from me, O Lord;
may your love and your truth always protect me.”

O God, how we need your mercy,  surround us with love and truth in the midst of our everyday lives.