Reading: Psalms 143 - 145
My Verse: "The LORD upholds all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down" (Psalm 145:14).
What a paradox! Somehow it doesn't seem that I should be falling and bowed down if I am a child of You, LORD God. And yet You do address this issue often in Your word. Being a Christian or follower of You does not mean we are exempt from trials even to the point of feeling like we are "falling" or being "bowed down!"
We watched a movie, The Railway Man, that depicted the true story of a British soldier who suffered incredible torture while a prisoner of the Japanese in World War II. The mental and emotional anguish this man suffered throughout his life way after the war was intense. It wasn't until he fell in love and married(late in his life) , that he was able, with the help and love of his wife, to address and deal with the deep anger. The result being that he confronted his Japanese torturer with the intent of killing him, ended up forgiving the man and becoming great friends with him. The movie for me depicted not only the deep depravity of man but also the amazing healing power of love. You, LORD God, are the author of this love.
I run and work out. I am learning the more I push myself, the better the results. My body feels stronger and healthier after the stress of being pushed! The stress and strain isn't easy and yet seems necessary to maintain my health. You, LORD God, do this for me spiritually - You push me so that I will grow stronger and healthier spiritually.
Paul, the man who learned first hand what it was to suffer, stated what suffering brings about in our character if we keep our eyes on You, LORD God through our trials.
"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been burned into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (Romans 5:3,4,5).
This is so important! When the verse says "all who are falling" and "all who are bowed down" the author is speaking of followers of You, LORD God. Suffering without You, without love simply distorts us even further as it did the British soldier.
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you" (Isaiah 43:2).
This is an amazing promise that we, as followers of You, LORD God, can hang onto! We can hang onto this because nothing can separate us from Your love!
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:37 - 39).
Thank You for this reminder to me! I may feel I am "falling" or "bowed down" but that is only temporary. You, LORD God, will bring me through all things if I keep my eyes on You!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: "The LORD upholds all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down" (Psalm 145:14).
What a paradox! Somehow it doesn't seem that I should be falling and bowed down if I am a child of You, LORD God. And yet You do address this issue often in Your word. Being a Christian or follower of You does not mean we are exempt from trials even to the point of feeling like we are "falling" or being "bowed down!"
We watched a movie, The Railway Man, that depicted the true story of a British soldier who suffered incredible torture while a prisoner of the Japanese in World War II. The mental and emotional anguish this man suffered throughout his life way after the war was intense. It wasn't until he fell in love and married(late in his life) , that he was able, with the help and love of his wife, to address and deal with the deep anger. The result being that he confronted his Japanese torturer with the intent of killing him, ended up forgiving the man and becoming great friends with him. The movie for me depicted not only the deep depravity of man but also the amazing healing power of love. You, LORD God, are the author of this love.
I run and work out. I am learning the more I push myself, the better the results. My body feels stronger and healthier after the stress of being pushed! The stress and strain isn't easy and yet seems necessary to maintain my health. You, LORD God, do this for me spiritually - You push me so that I will grow stronger and healthier spiritually.
Paul, the man who learned first hand what it was to suffer, stated what suffering brings about in our character if we keep our eyes on You, LORD God through our trials.
"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been burned into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (Romans 5:3,4,5).
This is so important! When the verse says "all who are falling" and "all who are bowed down" the author is speaking of followers of You, LORD God. Suffering without You, without love simply distorts us even further as it did the British soldier.
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you" (Isaiah 43:2).
This is an amazing promise that we, as followers of You, LORD God, can hang onto! We can hang onto this because nothing can separate us from Your love!
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:37 - 39).
Thank You for this reminder to me! I may feel I am "falling" or "bowed down" but that is only temporary. You, LORD God, will bring me through all things if I keep my eyes on You!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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