I was doing my devotions last night, reading Psalm 40. I have read the first three verses many times, but this time, I was given fresh revelation.
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord" (Psalm 40:1-3)
Something struck my attention in the phrase "a hymn of praise to our God." I had just finished writing an email to the new members of the youth group worship team. In it, I noted the difference between 'worship' and 'praise' (worship being a response to who God is and praise being a response to what He does). That verse suddenly made a lot more sense to me.
I had always thought of it as, "When we 'worship' God, others will see it and, for some reason (unknown to me), that will make them fear God and trust in Him." Why telling God that He is holy and good and awesome and [fill in the blank with any quality that defines Him] would cause an unbeliever to fear Him or put their trust in Him never fully made sense to me. But, the word in that verse is not 'worship' - it's 'praise.' I believe there is significance in making the distinction.
Each of us has a testimony - a "hymn of praise to our God" - of what God has done or is doing in our life. This is one of the most powerful tools God has given us to turn a lost world toward Him. We are given countless examples throughout Scripture of this cause and effect scenario (e.g. 1 Chronicles 16:24-25; Mark 5:1-20; John 4:4-42), but I especially love how straightforward it is put in the story of the Samaritan woman: "Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, 'He told me everything I ever did'" (John 4:39).
This brought me back to the first two verses of Psalm 40:
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand" (Psalm 40:1-2).
This was David's testimony of God's deliverance. Aside from the "waiting patiently" part, ha, this sounded strangely similar to my own testimony (or -ies). I recall one night in particular, two Februaries ag0. I was going through a lot of personal stuff at the time, dealing with a lot of stress and a lot of guilt. To top it all off, I had woken up that morning completely overwhelmed with the sudden realization that I, in fact, struggled with something that I had denied struggling with for nearly ten years. In a matter of hours, I went from okay to not so good to suicidal. Walking across FSU's campus that rainy morning, I felt as if I was alone - as if God was very far away, and I no longer knew how to find Him. By mid morning, I had planned my own death. I was just waiting for one thing - for God to step in and change my mind. Stupidly (and almost mockingly), I told Him, "I'll give you one more day, God." Well, that day passed, just like every other, and nothing changed. I went to church that night, as I did most Wednesday nights, but God felt just as distant there as He had at school. I drove away in tears after the service, screaming at God, telling Him I was "done." I was on my way to carry out my plan when something (or Someone) prompted me to make a phone call - a final resort. I called a friend who never answered her phone, expecting to get her voicemail. (In fact, I told God that was all I'd get. I told Him it was a dumb idea, and that "when" she didn't answer, I would go through with things as planned.) She answered. Not knowing what to say, I told her I was in trouble and needed to talk with someone. She said, "Give me ten minutes, and I'll be back."
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry..."
She sat with me in silence while I squirmed anxiously in my chair. She listened to me as I told her (between sobs) what was going on, and, for the first time ever, the admission to my struggle rolled off my tongue. When I expected her to judge me and pull away, she smiled, laughed, pulled me close, and told me, "It's no big deal." I had believed so many lies that day. I believed that God had left me, when He clearly promised He never would (Deuteronomy 31:6). I believed that my struggle was worse than everyone else's, when there is no temptation that is not common to man (1 Corinthians 10:13) and Jesus Himself was tempted in every way (Hebrews 4:15). I believed that my life was a mistake, and that others would be better off if I were dead, when all throughout Scripture, we see that God forms each of us with purpose - He makes no mistakes (Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5; Philippians 1:18b-26). But...
"He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand."
To this day, I still deal with depression - it is an ongoing battle, and from time to time, I still lose sight of those truths (and many others that have kept me grounded over the last twenty-two years of my life). But I am still alive today, standing on the Word of God, and speaking truth over the Devil's lies (in my life and in the lives of others who will read this) - because of God.
This is the "new song" that He has put in my mouth, my "hymn of praise" to God. "Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD."
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord" (Psalm 40:1-3)
Something struck my attention in the phrase "a hymn of praise to our God." I had just finished writing an email to the new members of the youth group worship team. In it, I noted the difference between 'worship' and 'praise' (worship being a response to who God is and praise being a response to what He does). That verse suddenly made a lot more sense to me.
I had always thought of it as, "When we 'worship' God, others will see it and, for some reason (unknown to me), that will make them fear God and trust in Him." Why telling God that He is holy and good and awesome and [fill in the blank with any quality that defines Him] would cause an unbeliever to fear Him or put their trust in Him never fully made sense to me. But, the word in that verse is not 'worship' - it's 'praise.' I believe there is significance in making the distinction.
Each of us has a testimony - a "hymn of praise to our God" - of what God has done or is doing in our life. This is one of the most powerful tools God has given us to turn a lost world toward Him. We are given countless examples throughout Scripture of this cause and effect scenario (e.g. 1 Chronicles 16:24-25; Mark 5:1-20; John 4:4-42), but I especially love how straightforward it is put in the story of the Samaritan woman: "Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, 'He told me everything I ever did'" (John 4:39).
This brought me back to the first two verses of Psalm 40:
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand" (Psalm 40:1-2).
This was David's testimony of God's deliverance. Aside from the "waiting patiently" part, ha, this sounded strangely similar to my own testimony (or -ies). I recall one night in particular, two Februaries ag0. I was going through a lot of personal stuff at the time, dealing with a lot of stress and a lot of guilt. To top it all off, I had woken up that morning completely overwhelmed with the sudden realization that I, in fact, struggled with something that I had denied struggling with for nearly ten years. In a matter of hours, I went from okay to not so good to suicidal. Walking across FSU's campus that rainy morning, I felt as if I was alone - as if God was very far away, and I no longer knew how to find Him. By mid morning, I had planned my own death. I was just waiting for one thing - for God to step in and change my mind. Stupidly (and almost mockingly), I told Him, "I'll give you one more day, God." Well, that day passed, just like every other, and nothing changed. I went to church that night, as I did most Wednesday nights, but God felt just as distant there as He had at school. I drove away in tears after the service, screaming at God, telling Him I was "done." I was on my way to carry out my plan when something (or Someone) prompted me to make a phone call - a final resort. I called a friend who never answered her phone, expecting to get her voicemail. (In fact, I told God that was all I'd get. I told Him it was a dumb idea, and that "when" she didn't answer, I would go through with things as planned.) She answered. Not knowing what to say, I told her I was in trouble and needed to talk with someone. She said, "Give me ten minutes, and I'll be back."
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry..."
She sat with me in silence while I squirmed anxiously in my chair. She listened to me as I told her (between sobs) what was going on, and, for the first time ever, the admission to my struggle rolled off my tongue. When I expected her to judge me and pull away, she smiled, laughed, pulled me close, and told me, "It's no big deal." I had believed so many lies that day. I believed that God had left me, when He clearly promised He never would (Deuteronomy 31:6). I believed that my struggle was worse than everyone else's, when there is no temptation that is not common to man (1 Corinthians 10:13) and Jesus Himself was tempted in every way (Hebrews 4:15). I believed that my life was a mistake, and that others would be better off if I were dead, when all throughout Scripture, we see that God forms each of us with purpose - He makes no mistakes (Psalm 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:5; Philippians 1:18b-26). But...
"He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand."
To this day, I still deal with depression - it is an ongoing battle, and from time to time, I still lose sight of those truths (and many others that have kept me grounded over the last twenty-two years of my life). But I am still alive today, standing on the Word of God, and speaking truth over the Devil's lies (in my life and in the lives of others who will read this) - because of God.
This is the "new song" that He has put in my mouth, my "hymn of praise" to God. "Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD."
"We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our
testimony - everyone, overcome." - "Overcome" by Desperation Band
(Reverlation 12:11)
testimony - everyone, overcome." - "Overcome" by Desperation Band
(Reverlation 12:11)
Wow, I have never heard the whole story of that night, but it's beautiful. I find it interesting that God used a person, an unexpected friend, to save both of us when we were lost and ready to throw in the towel. Perhaps, that is one good reason why He wants us to keep living, to see that lost and lonely person and to tell them to keep going when they too are ready to quit.
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