PSALMS 119:52 “I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.”
KEYWORD: When hope appears lost, fix your gaze on God. Faithful is He who called you, and faithful is He who will deliver you.
There are seasons in a man’s life when it seems as though all hell has been let loose against him. Turning to the right appears to bring trouble, while turning to the left brings danger, moving forward feels like facing a massive Red Sea, and looking back reveals the enemy pursuing your life. The Bible refers to such times as the day of adversity or the evil day. Job is a perfect example. Everything was going well for him, and suddenly, without any fault of his own, things went terribly wrong. He lost his possessions, his children, and almost everything he held dear. What a man does in the evil day is often more important than the situation itself.
As a believer going through such moments of trial, you must learn to possess your soul. To possess your soul means to remain inwardly governed by God and by the truth of His Word regardless of outward circumstances. It is the difference between being ruled by what happens to you and being anchored in who you are in Christ. Whenever David was surrounded by his enemies, instead of panicking or becoming overwhelmed, he remembered God’s track record. He remembered how God had delivered him from enemies stronger than himself, and that remembrance stirred courage and faith for the battle before him (1 Samuel 17:37).
The more the storms of life seem to surround you, the more you should look back and consider how far God has brought you. As you remember His faithfulness, your faith is rekindled and your heart is encouraged. When hope appears lost, fix your gaze on God. Faithful is He who called you, and faithful is He who will deliver you. God is El Shaddai, the Almighty God, the strong and all sufficient. He can’t rehearse with your life. Therefore, be encouraged and hold fast to His promises, for the God whose testimonies fill your past is the same God who is working in your present and preparing your victory in the future.
PRAYER:
Thank You, faithful King of glory, my ever-present help in time of need. When I go through the waters, I shall not be drowned, and when I walk through the fire, it shall not consume me because You are with me every step of the way. I choose to remember Your faithfulness and trust in Your unfailing love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
PSALM 119:92–93 “Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction. I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.”
DEUTERONOMY 6:20–21 “And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God hath commanded you? Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand:”