Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

SATURDAY MAY 23


STUCK IN THE MUD

READ:
Psalm 40:2
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He...brought me
up out of...the
miry clay, and
set my feet upon
a rock.
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We were absolutely stuck! While I was laying the wreath in place on my parents' grave, my husband eased the car off the road to allow another car to pass. It had rained for weeks and the parking area was sodden. When we were ready to leave, we discovered that the car was stuck. The wheels spun, sinking further and further into the mud.

We weren't going anywhere without a push, but my husband had a damaged shoulder, and I had just come out of the hospital. We needed help! At a distance I saw two young men, and they responded cheerfully to my frantic waves and shouts. Thankfully, their combined strength pushed the car back onto the roadway.

Psalm 40 recounts God's faithfulness when David cried fro help. "I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he...heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire" (vv. 12NLT). Whether this psalm refers to an actual pit or to challenging circumstances, David knew that he could always call on God for deliverance.

God will help us too when we call on Him. Sometimes He intervenes directly, but more often He works through other people. When we admit our need to Him__and perhaps to others_we can count on His faithfulness. __Marion Stroud

**I praise You, heavenly Father, that You can rescue me from any pit, no
matter how deep. Help me to accept the help of others and to be ready to
offer it to those in need. _________________________________________________________________
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Hope comes with help from God and others.

**************************************Today's Bible Reading __ Psalm 40:1-5**************************************
1 I waited patiently for the Lord; had He inclined to
me, and heard my cry. 2 He also brought me up out of a
horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a
rock, and established my steps. 3 He has put a new song
in my mouth__praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and
will trust in the LORD.

4 Blessed is that man who makes he LORD his trust, and does
not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 5 Many, O
LORD my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done;
and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in
order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more
than can be numbered.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
David wrote about his struggles to trust God
during difficult times, but he persisted in praying for His help
(vv. 11-17). Despite his prolonged and uncertain waiting (vv. 13,17),
David testified that God hears and answers prayers (vv. 1-2) and
is worthy of our trust (vv. 3-4). In response to God's faithfulness,
David committed himself to obeying God's Word and doing His
will (vv. 6-8), and he calls on all who seek and long for God to join
him in praising God (v. 16).