Numbering My Days

Tag: salvation

  • Psalm 130

    Out of the depths I call . . .
    LORD, if you kept an account
    of iniquities
    LORD, who could stand?
    But with you there is forgiveness . . .
    I wait for the LORD
    more than watchmen for the morning.

    Depths of despair.

    • of need
    • of sin

    Lord, I call, and I wait.

    Just like an anxious, tired watchman.

    I know the sun is coming – never fails.

    But Lord . . . it seems to be taking its time.

    Our of the depths of this night I call.

    Lord, come!

    Save me! Forgive me! Redeem me!

    Be my strong deliverer.

    With you, you alone, there is redemption.

    I put my hope in you!

  • Psalm 129

    . . . but they have not prevailed
    against me.
    . . . The LORD is righteous . . .

    He is the source of protection that I need.

    Attacks may come, in fact they have been coming since I was young.

    But they have not prevailed.

    Sometimes it seems as though I’ve been run over by life.

    But they have not prevailed.

    Bound. Disgraced. Humiliated – all possible, but not forever.

    They have not prevailed.

    The Lord is righteous.

    He has promised protection.

    He has made provision.

    He has had my back through it all.

    Praise the Lord!

    He prevails!

  • Psalm 124

    If the LORD had not been
    on our side – . . .
    Our help is in the name of the LORD,
    The Maker of heaven and earth.

    Lord, again, I don’t know why:

    • You choose to love me.
    • Bless me
    • Save me
    • Provide for me

    But I do trust that you are on our side.

    The people of God, those who trust you through the grace of Jesus Christ, who have known you by the mercy of your love for us.

    You are on our side to save us, defend us, provide for us.

    Lord, My Help is in the name of the Lord. Lord Jesus Christ, maker of heaven and earth: I praise you, trust in you, follow you!

    You are my Lord!

  • Psalm 122

    I rejoiced with those who said to me,
    “Let’s go to the house of the LORD.”

    The temple of God – once the heartbeat of Jerusalem was destroyed. The very presence of God, gone because of the sin of the people of God.

    The Lord now sends His Spirit to live in us, those who submit to Him, trust in Him, believe and confess.

    And when the people of God gather, there is real joy, for the presence of God with all the people is known through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

    So, still, there is reason to rejoice, as we go “to the house of the Lord.” He is in the midst of His people at work to extend the joy of salvation, peace with God, the Father, and the celebration of the people of God.

    I was glad!

  • Psalm 119:161-168

    Abundant peace belongs to those
    who love your instruction;
    nothing makes them stumble.

    Here is part of the secret that unlocks the power of Romans 6:19 (just having read that verse: just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification.)

    There is peace, spiritual peace, that results from developing the habitual, disciplined practice of dwelling in God’s instruction – His Word. A peace that brings stability and security. “Nothing makes them stumble. . . ”

    That peace comes as I love the Word, replacing my love for sin with the love for spending time in the Word, in prayer, in worship, in God-honoring activity. In doing so I put to death the habits of sin. I don’t leave room for them in my life.

    In this way I discover the peace God offers in this saved life. I’m not saved by these actions, but I come to be at peace with God as I love Him and His Word.

    Abundant life.

    Lots of work to be done – but this is the beginning of an image for Psalm 121 – to come later in the week.

  • Psalm 119:153-160

    Consider how I love your precepts;
    LORD, give me life according to
    your faithful love.

    I have previously observed this truth: Life- eternal life – is always given us according to His faithful love.

    A part of me wants to be lovable. To have earned even a speck of the joy and reward that the Lord grants His children. For if I earned it, I would be proud! “See what I did!”

    But there is nothing I have done, do today, or will ever do that earns even the shadow cast by His long-suffering, perfect, faithful love. My eternal reward is a gift from Him, according to His faithful love.

    Thank you, Lord, for your faithful love that provided Jesus Christ who died for me, that I might receive your gift of grace.

    Amen.

  • Psalm 119:81-88

    I long for your salvation;
    I put my hope in your word.

    Lord, your salvation is the desire of my heart.

    It is:

    • Eternal security
    • Meaningful life now
    • Abundant life, filled with your joy, Your goodness
    • Provision for today and hope for tomorrow
    • Relationship with you, Creator, Sustainer of life
    • Rescue from the sin that besets me – pulls me under

    In your Word I find hope for the salvation you offer and provide.

    In your Word there is

    • forgiveness
    • peace
    • joy
    • a sure foundation for the life I long for

    Lord, save me, by the power of the Gospel through Jesus Christ my Lord.

  • Psalm 118

    It is better to take refuge in the LORD
    than to trust in humanity.
    . . . than to trust in nobles . . .
    The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone.

    Here are competing philosophies – competing ideas for how to invest my life, to find security, to trust for the future.

    In humanity: Take refuge in the innate goodness of all men. Common. Here’s the problem, we know by Scripture, by observation, and by experience: men are not innately good. We are full of sin.

    In nobles: Trust the government – especially those political leaders who will provide and care for you. Don’t make me laugh! The worst of the worst. A vain pursuit filled with evil people.

    Instead: Trust in the rejected cornerstone. This is Jesus Christ. I choose to build my life on the foundation He provides. The cornerstone of Truth. The Way to eternal life. Supported and buit up as part of His people.

    Praise the Lord!

    This illustration (for Psalm 119:35) has been frustrating. It started here – I’ll share several different versions during the week of where this illustration went before it ended where it did.

  • Psalm 110

    This is the declaration of the LORD
    to my LORD:
    “Sit at my right hand . . . “
    “You are a priest forever
    according to the pattern
    of Melchizedek.”

    This is the triumphant and righteous Christ – ruling and leading His people.

    The victorious King, sitting at the Lord’s right hand. Victorious.

    And, serving His people as priest, not a priest bound by the Law, but a priest like Melchizedek. A priest who is right before God, who represents God to His people and the people to God. One with direct access through His sacrifice – His life, victorious on the cross.

    We rejoice, celebrate, honor this King the Priest. We know this is Jesus Christ, Son of God, Son of Man, ruling, reigning for us.

    Lord, be our King,

    Our Priest.

    Save us by your compassionate love – in Christ!

  • Psalm 109

    Help me, LORD my God;
    save me according to
    your faithful love
    so that they may know that this is
    your hand
    and that you, LORD have done it.

    This Psalm reveals David’s heart, at its rawest, to us. Sorta hard to read and understand. David calls on God to absolutely crush, destroy, wipe out, and curse the wicked one who has accused him and treated him poorly.

    But, as David turns to ask God also for blessing on his own life, he does so with the humility that recognizes an important truth: salvation from God is “according to His faithful love.” God saves us, not because of our righteousness or anything that is due us.

    God saves us out of His faithful love toward us. Salvation is ours only by grace through the mercy of a God who loves us.

    Lord, may my prayers, my attitude be like David’s in that moment. Save me according to your faithfulness.

    Praise the Lord!