- araratchurch
- Mar 5, 2024
- 2 min read
“For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from falling.“
Psalms 116:8 NKJV
An old hymn we used to sing, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” extols the benefits of having such a Friend as the Lord.
“What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit
O what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer”
The reality of our earthly friendships is that no matter how much another person may love us, no matter how sincerely they may want to help us, there are times when they cannot cure what ails us.
Indeed, there are threats beyond the realm of human protection, sorrow beyond the reach of earthly consolation, and predicaments beyond human solution or rescue.
But, nothing is impossible for our Lord.
Our Lord is never at a loss to extend a lifeline to those on the brink of death.
“For great is Your lovingkindness and graciousness toward me; And You have rescued my life from the depths of Sheol [from death].”
Psalms 86:13 AMP
He can bring comfort in the midst of unbearable sorrow.
“He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.“
Psalms 147:3 NLT
And, He can help us safely navigate life’s often treacherous terrain.
“The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.
Habakkuk 3:19 NLT
In our opening scripture, we see the psalmist enumerating in what ways the Lord has dealt bountifully with him. Indeed, the Lord has delivered him from death, grief, and danger.
Child of God, there is nothing and no one able to stand against the Lord. No matter what you are going through, let Him help you. Cry out to Him as the psalmist did. Nothing can withstand Him. The Lord is your best Friend! If He is for you, who or what can stand against you?
“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?“
Romans 8:31-32 NLT
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Mar 4, 2024
- 1 min read
This week we will continue looking into the spiritual journey I recently experienced during a severe illness. Over the next several days we will continue searching out an “epilogue” the Lord gave me concerning the spiritual journey.
In preparation for our continuing discussion on Psalms 116 please carefully read and meditate on Psalm 18.
Psalm 18 is rather lengthy at 50 verses; but it beautifully represents our sovereign Savior.
King David was not only a priestly king, but was also a prophet. He had such a unique relationship with the Lord that he often slipped prophetically into the place of our Lord. For example, we see a clear picture of Christ’s suffering on the cross in Psalm 22. I make this point to reinforce the fact that meditating on David’s prophetic observations and representations concerning the intervening power of the Lord, serves us well.
“For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.“
Psalms 18:39 NKJV
Here we see that David had found that the Lord had given him strength to face whatever battle may come his way.
The context of Psalm 18 is that David wrote it after his victory over Saul, as well as over all of his enemies.
Child of God, the Lord will do no less for you! But remember, sometimes He delivers us out of a battle; but sometimes, He strengthens us to fight and subdue our enemies.
The Lord truly is our sovereign Savior!
Tomorrow we will jump back into Psalm 116.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Mar 2, 2024
- 2 min read
“Return to your rest, O my soul, For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.“
Psalms 116:7 NKJV
It was in England around 1762. A young cleric, Augustus M. Toplady, was traveling across a gorge. Suddenly finding himself in the middle of an intense storm, the young reverend sought refuge in one of the many clefts in the rock wall. It was from there that Toplady was inspired to write the words of the beloved hymn, “Rock of Ages.”
“Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.”
Toplady, having found refuge from the storm by hiding in the cleft of a rock, was reminded of the saving power of the Rock of our Salvation, Jesus Christ.
He knew, as did the psalmist, that true rest comes only from the Lord.
“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.“
Psalms 62:1 NIV
Indeed, our Lord invited us all to enter into His rest.
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.””
Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV
However, the Lord’s rest is only available to those who will submit to His yoke: the Holy Spirit.
Sadly, even many Christians suffer needlessly because they want to do things their own way.
“Thus says the Lord: “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”
Jeremiah 6:16 NKJV
Yes, even in the midst of trouble, some people will continue in their own ways of being and doing.
But, for those who will accept the Lord’s invitation to come to Him, for those who will trust and follow Him, rest can be a constant state of being, no matter the circumstances.
In our opening scripture we see the psalmist, after having been rescued by the Lord, instructing his soul to return to the place of rest.
Child of God, it’s easy to let what you’re going through pull you from your place of rest in Jesus. If you’ve let that happen to you, get back into your rest, get back into Him! Trust Him. Follow Him.
Remember, the Lord doesn’t just give rest, He is Rest!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!