Ever Loving

A Reflection on the Psalm for August 18th, 2019:
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalm 40

R. Lord, make haste to help me!

I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 

Lord, make haste to help me! 

He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. 

Lord, make haste to help me!

He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.

Lord, make haste to help me! 

As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God. 

Lord, make haste to help me!

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We have a powerful and ever-loving God and this psalm is full of praises for Him! During our most desperate times, He is there to help. Even when we seem to be in a place where we may feel helpless and hopeless, He is there to hold our hand. We can afford to be cheerful and happy in times of great challenges because He is there for us.


Verse 3 reads, “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.”
How can we not sing our praises of our God who has never failed us?


Whenever we raise our worries to God, we can be like children full of faith and trust that everything will be okay. I have often observed this from my children when they were little. Every scratch, cut or bruise was always lifted up so that God would make it better. I still remember how they would run to me, scared at the sight of blood, to bring their cuts to be prayed for. And sure enough, the fear would be gone, their games resumed. Later when I asked how they were doing, they happily responded that the cut was almost healed! Because of these little victories, first as a small child, and later on as adults we are able to sing the praises of our God because He never fails us! How many times as adults have we been in situations where our backs were against the wall with nowhere to turn to — how we have knelt in prayer for God to rescue us!

Even when we seem to be in a place where we may feel helpless and hopeless,
​He is there to hold our hand.

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The last verse speaks of God’s  loving care for us. Even if “... I am poor and needy, the Lord takes thought for me.” How blessed we are that we have a God who still always thinks of us, regardless of how unmindful we are of Him. There is great solace in this thought, especially in times of adversities and big challenges. What a wonderful God we have who would never forsake us!


Let us pray:
Lord, we pray that you may always be the centre of our thoughts. During difficult times, may we always lift up our circumstances for your blessing. In good times, may we always remember to praise and thank you for the countless blessings we have received. May we never fail to praise you, even for other people’s victories, for You have made those  possible.

​
Liz Venezuela

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