Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

September 1
Monday


I AM NOT
FORGOTTEN

READ:
Psalm 13
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Our soul waits for
the LORD; He is our
help and our shield.
__Psalm 33:20
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Waiting is hard at any time; but when days, weeks, or even months pass and our prayers seem to go unanswered, it's easy to feel God has forgotten us. Perhaps we can struggle through the day with its distractions, but at night it's doubly difficult to deal with our anxious thoughts. Worries loom large, and the dark hours seem endless. Utter weariness makes it look impossible to face the new day.

The psalmist grew weary as he waited (Ps. 13:1). He felt abandoned__as if his enemies were gaining the upper hand (v.2). When we're waiting for God to resolve a difficult situation or to answer often-repeated prayers, it's easy to get discouraged.

Satan whispers that God has forgotten us, and that things will never change. We may be tempted to give in to despair. Why bother to read the Bible or to pray? Why make the effort to worship with fellow believers in Christ? But we need our spiritual lifelines most when we're waiting. They help to hold us steady in the flow of God's love and to become sensitive to His Spirit.

The psalmist had a remedy. he focused on all that he knew of God's love, reminding himself of past blessings and deliberately praising God, who would not forget him. So can we. __Marion Stroud

``````````````````````````Lover of my soul, who draws close````````````````````````
```````````````````````in the darkest and longest night, please``````````````````````
`````````````````````````keep me trusting You, talking to You,``````````````````````
````````````````````````````and leaning on Your promises.`````````````````````````
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God is worth waiting for; His time is always best.

**************************************Today's Bible Reading __ Psalm 13*********************************
1 How long, O LORD? Will
You forget me forever?
How long will You hide
Your face from me? 2 How
long shall I take counsel in
my soul, having sorrow in
my heart daily? How long
will my enemy be exalted
over me?

2 Consider and hear me,
O LORD my God; enlighten
my eyes, lest I sleep the
sleep of death; 4 lest my
enemy say, "I have
prevailed against him"; lest
those who trouble me
rejoice when I am moved.

5 But I have trust in
Your mercy; my heart shall
rejoice in Your salvation.

6 I will sing to the LORD,
because He has dealt
bountifully with me.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

All believers go through times of frustration due to unanswered
prayer. Yet the Scriptures provide hope for this apparent dilemma.
Psalm 13 illustrates the release that grows out of praying through
a problem. David asks God four times "how long" he must wait to
get an answer to prayer (vv.1-2). Eventually he understands that his
perspective has not been a divine one. He then asks God to "give light
to my eyes" so that he can have the strength to endure opposition
(vv.3-4). David redirects his heart to trust in God's unfailing mercy.
The Hebrew word for "mercy" here is hesed, which connotes
enduring, unfailing, and gracious care. With a new perspective, David
now sings of God's goodness with petitions of praise (vv.5-6).