“I waited patiently for the Lord—and He inclined unto me and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings. And He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God; many shall see it and fear and shall trust in the Lord.”
Psalm 40:1-3
When we remember what He’s done and where He’s brought us from, we can’t help but engage in continual thanksgiving.
How long have you been a believer in and follower of Christ, Pilgrim? A year? Ten years? Forty years or longer? Regardless, the question is “Do you still remember what your life was like before you met Him? Do you remember those feelings of hopeless despair that weighed you down and how ‘lost’ you felt?”
Hopefully you do.
And, hopefully, right now you’ll pause and say “Thank You, Lord.”
Part of the problem for those of us who’ve been saved for many years is our forgetfulness of how He “inclined His ear unto us, heard our cry, brought us up out of a horrible pit, set our feet upon a rock, established our goings and put a new song of praise in our mouths.” That’s why it’s good from time-to-time to remember—for such reflecting has a way of stimulating new rejoicing within us.
Where were you when Jesus became real to you? Do you remember?
Were you going through a rough time in your life? Were you at your “wits’ end” (Ps. 107:27)? Was your life falling apart and you felt like a drowning man at sea, desperately hoping someone would throw you a life preserver? Was guilt over your many sins your constant companion, causing you to feel you’d never know what it felt like to feel “clean” and “forgiven”?
If so, what happened?
Did a friend or relative tell you about Jesus and His Love? Were you watching a television program and did the speaker’s words of Christ and His forgiveness pierce your heart? Were you driving down the road and suddenly became overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit’s Presence? Were you alone in your room, reading the Bible, and suddenly the Shekinah Glory of God filled the place?
Regardless, have you lost “the joy of His Salvation” (Ps. 51:12a) and in need of a fresh touch from Him?
If so, cry out to Him now. . .with a “broken and contrite heart”. . .knowing He’ll “not despise” such a “poor and needy” cry (Ps. 51:17) and will “create a clean heart within you and renew a right spirit within you” (Ps. 51:10).
He’s waiting, Pilgrim. Patiently waiting.
Just cry out to Him and know He’ll hear and answer.
Then, with tears of joy, cry out “Thank You, Lord. Thank You for never giving up on me.”
