Something to think about as you start a new week

But I am poor and needy; Yet the LORD thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God. Psalm 40:17

I am poor and needy.
I have no resources, no status,
Marked by a want of affection,
Attention, or emotional support.

If we follow the examples around us,
We can temporarily distract ourselves.
We can entertain, or overindulge,
Deny or disguise.

And still we are poor and needy.

YET (This changes everything.)

The LORD (Remember who He is.)

THINKS (He has seen, He knows. He has a plan.)

Upon me. (And you. In our unique situations.)

He knows.
He knows my need.
He knows my lack.
He is moved with compassion and love
To act.

He is my help IN the situation.
He is my deliverer FROM the situation.

He sets me free.
He rescues me from every enemy, every threat.
He brings me up out of my chaos and places me next to Him.
He provides the very things I hunger for.
He makes me a new person.
He brings His word to me.
He will see me home.

All of those and more.
He is your deliverer as well.

Worship Him.

Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. Psalm 95:6

Your Maker is sovereign over His creation.
He is the absolute ruler.
All people, creatures, and processes
Are subject to Him.

He is omnipotent.
He has power to control.
He has power to begin and to end.
Power to choose and to cast off.

Your Maker sets the boundaries for His creation.
He actively governs,
He tirelessly guides and corrects,
He punishes and exalts.

We are often quick to acknowledge this.
Sometimes we struggle to accept
The Lord is my Maker, Your Maker
My Sovereign, Your Sovereign.
He has power over me and you.
He rules, He sets boundaries for me and you.

He cannot be an abstract idea, though.
He cannot be a figurehead.
We must worship and fall down
Before the Lord our Maker.

Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:8

If you look in the dictionary,
Refuge means shelter or protection from danger or distress.
We can trust God at all times.
We are safe with Him.

A refuge is a home for those who are destitute, homeless, or in disgrace.
We can pour out our hearts before Him.
We can tell Him our troubles, our needs, our anxieties.
We are free with Him.

A refuge is also a means of resort for help in difficulty. 
We do not have to face anything alone.
Every challenge, every difficulty, He is with us.
We have His presence with us.

God made promises to His people.
He delights in fulfilling His word to us.
You will see His greatness and glory
When you go to Him, your refuge.

Worship Him!

(PS – This is one of my favorite verses.)

Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously, And govern the nations on earth. Selah. (Psalm 67:4)

It may seem counterintuitive to worship Yahweh as your judge.
We don’t like to think about judgment.
But it is an inestimable blessing
To have the LORD as judge.

He is righteous.
He Himself is the standard.
And in Christ we are confident
Our sins are covered.

He is compassionate.
He has boundless mercy.
So much mercy that He Himself
Secured salvation for any who would avoid His wrath.

He is just.
He sees the poor, the oppressed and passed over.
He shows no favor to the rich and connected.
He will uphold His own righteousness.

He is a judge who accepts a substitute.
For that reason, we can stand before Him
Without fear
With worship and thanksgiving.