SOAP 10/13/2015; Psalm 61:2-3

Today's reading: Nehemiah 9, 10; Acts 2*

S) "² From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
³ For You have been a refuge for me,
A tower of strength against the enemy."

Psalm 61:2-3 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Psalm 61

O) David began this prayer, by acknowledging who God has already been to him. He was well aware, that God's hand had been upon him throughout his life, preserving him. Even before he was ever anointed as king, as a shepherd in the wild, God was his only protection. Certainly, once we was anointed and he knew God had placed a call on his life, that changed his perspective, but his life of faith and trust was not only about that anointing. After all, his predecessor had been anointed, too. But, as is common in many of his psalms, in this one he remained humble, by acknowledging that God is greater than he, and by recalling his previous needs being met in God.

A) The reality is, the more I practically place my trust in God, the easier it gets to trust Him. The degree to which I have already known God to be my refuge, and my tower of strength against my enemy, the easier it is to trust Him immediately, to meet all of my needs. As important as it is, that God has always shown grace to me, it will do me no practical good moving forward (in terms of how I trust Him), if I am ignoring His history in my life. This is what testimony and witness are all about. I must remind myself of what God has done, perhaps even more often, than I must share it with others.

P) Father, You have been exceedingly good to Your servant, throughout my life. Even from the womb, You have preserved me. Throughout my childhood, You seem to have kept me from various harm, and through my young adulthood, Your grace is even more clear. As I became an adult, I foolishly tried to be sovereign in my life, and I learned the hard way that I was unfit to be king over my own kingdom. Even in that, the grace of Your discipline is evident. Over and over, You have been faithful to preserve me. Whatever the future holds, I fully trust that You will keep me. From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength against the enemy. Be glorified in my life, and let me praise Your name forever. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.