PSALM 44 - CALL OUT TO GOD IN YOUR TIME OF TROUBLE
Holy Spirit instructed me to open my Bible to a random page which I did with my eyes closed .. then He told me to turn 40 pages (40 = PERIOD OF TESTING or TRIAL) to Psalm 44.
THE PAST
God, we’ve heard about all the glorious miracles you’ve done for our ancestors in days gone by. They told us about the ancient times, how by your power you drove out the ungodly nations from this land, crushing all their strongholds and giving the land to us. Now the people of Israel cover the land from one end to the other, all because of your grace and power! Our forefathers didn’t take the land by their own strength or their own skill or strategy. But it was through the shining forth of your radiant presence and the display of your mighty power. You loved to give them victory, for you took great delight in them. You are my God, my King! It’s now time to decree majesties for Jacob! Through your glorious name and your awesome power, we can push through to any victory and defeat every enemy. For I will not trust in the weapons of the world; I know they will never save me. Only you will be our Savior from all our enemies. All those who hate us you have brought to shame. So now I constantly boast in you. I can never thank you enough! Pause in his presence.
THE PRESENT
But you have turned your back on us; you walked off and left us! You’ve rejected us, tossing us aside in humiliating shame. You don’t go before us anymore in our battles. We retreat before our enemies in defeat, for you are no longer helping us. Those who hate us have invaded our land and plundered our people. You have treated us like sheep in the slaughter pen, ready to be butchered. You’ve scattered us to the four winds. You have sold us as slaves for nothing! You have counted us, your precious ones, as worthless. You have caused our neighbors to despise and scorn us. All those around us mock and curse us. You have made us the butt of their jokes. Disliked by all, we are the laughingstock of the people. There’s no escape from this constant curse, this humiliation! We are despised, jeered, overwhelmed by shame, and overcome at every turn by our hateful and heartless enemies. Despite all of this, we have not forgotten you; we have not broken covenant with you. We have not betrayed you; our hearts are still yours. Our steps have not strayed from your path. Yet you have crushed us, leaving us in this wilderness place of misery and desperation. With nowhere else to turn, death’s dark door seems to be the only way out. If we had forsaken your holy name, wouldn’t you know it? You’d be right in leaving us. If we had worshiped before other gods, no one would blame you for punishing us. God, you know our every heart-secret. You know we still want you! Because of you we face death threats every day. Like martyrs we are dying daily. We are seen as lambs lined up to be slaughtered as sacrifices.
THE FUTURE
So wake up, Lord God! Why would you sleep when we’re in trouble? Are you forsaking us forever? You can’t hide your face any longer from us! How could you forget our agonizing sorrow? Now we lay facedown, sinking into the dust of death, the quicksand of the grave. Arise, awake, and come to help us, O Lord. Let your unfailing love save us from this sorrow!”
Psalms 44:1-26 TPT
ALL BLESSINGS & VICTORIES COME FROM GOD. ACCORDING TO HIS COVENANT ..
If people obey and follow God, they will receive many blessings:
1. They will have children and health.
2. Their crops and livestock will flourish.
3. They will defeat their enemies.
In contrast, if the people reject God and disobey Him, they will be cursed:
1. Their families will be afflicted with diseases and become captives.
2. Their crops and livestock will be taken away.
3. They will be defeated by their enemies.
BUT SOMETIMES WE SUFFER OR EXPERIENCE TRIALS WHILE WE ARE ADHERING TO GOD'S COVENANT 😕 .. WE SEE EXAMPLES OF THIS WITH THE LIVES OF JOB, JOSEPH & JESUS. THEY FACED DEATH & AFFLICTION WILLINGLY. THEY TRUSTED THAT GOD HAD A PLAN .. THAT HE WAS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO BRING ABOUT HIS PURPOSES. WE CAN'T SEE OR KNOW GOD'S PLAN FOR OUR LIVES .. BUT IT IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN OUR OWN PLANS. EACH OF THESE PEOPLE HUMBLED THEMSELVES BEFORE GOD & REMEMBERED ALL GOD HAD DONE FOR THEIR ANCESTORS. THEY TRUSTED IN HIM FOR OVERCOMING VICTORY. THEY COUNTED ON HIS UNFAILING LOVE FOR THEM.
PSALM 44 TEACHES US A PATTERN TO FOLLOW WHEN GOING THROUGH LIFE'S TRIALS:
1. Remember the good things God has done in the past.
2. Remember it is OK to cry out to God to let Him know you are hurting.
3. Remember you have Someone you can go to who can empathize with your suffering - Jesus.
Hebrews 4:14-16 says: Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one how has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
4. Don't stay trapped in the pain. Humble yourself. Call out the God. And trust in Him to deliver you. His word is His promise. It says He will hear you and answer you in your time of trouble. He works all things for your good.
Romans 8:35-39 says: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
IF YOU DIED TONIGHT IN YOUR SLEEP, ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT YOU WOULD SPEND ETERNITY IN HEAVEN?
Jesus is the ONLY WAY!!!
BY ACKNOWLEDGING WITH YOUR WORDS (FROM YOUR HEART) THAT JESUS IS YOUR LORD & SAVIOR, YOU ARE SAVED FOR ALL ETERNITY.
GOD DOES NOT EXPECT US TO BE PERFECT, BUT HE REQUIRES THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT HIS SON IS THE CHRIST WHO CAME TO TAKE AWAY YOUR SINS & TO MAKE A WAY FOR YOU TO SPEND ALL ETERNITY IN HEAVEN WHEN YOUR LIFE HERE ON EARTH IS FINISHED.
IF YOU HAVE NOT MADE JESUS THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE, DON'T WAIT ANOTHER MINUTE SAY THIS PRAYER NOW (MUST BE SAID ALOUD):
Father God, I recognize I am a sinner. I come to you asking forgiveness of my sins. I confess in my heart and speak with my mouth that Jesus Christ is Your Son, and He died on the cross for my sins. I confess Jesus as the Lord of my heart, my soul and my life. I accept Jesus as my personal Savior and I praise You for making a way for me. I declare by the Blood of Jesus that I am saved. Jesus, I invite You into my life, and I pray You continue to reveal your LOVE to me by Your Holy Spirit. I ask You to have Your way with my life. I thank You for the new creation You have made me.
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