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Walking   with   God through   Difficult   Days

anchors for the soul

5/18/2020

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Psalm 119:73–80 NKJV
73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.
74 Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, Because I have hoped in Your word.
75 I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
76 Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, According to Your word to Your servant.
77 Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; For Your law is my delight.
78 Let the proud be ashamed, For they treated me wrongfully with falsehood; But I will meditate on Your precepts.
79 Let those who fear You turn to me, Those who know Your testimonies.
80 Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes, That I may not be ashamed.


When I read this stanza today, four statements struck me.  I immediately thought, “For me at least, these truths are anchors for the soul.”

I do not imply that means these are the most important truths in Scripture, nor even that they are the most important for me and should be for you.  What I mean is that I find these four statements to be foundational, and when my world is being rocked, these truths are stabilizing.  Like when my boat is being rocked in a stormy sea, knowing these things serves as an anchor for my soul!

What are they?
73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me;
I am saddened when I think how few people in our culture today KNOW this fact, that each of us has been fashioned by the Almighty Himself. 
  • So many people think they are the product of evolution to this point in time.
  • They think they are just the result of choices their parents made, good or bad.
  • They live with the idea that they are circumstantial.
Those kinds of thoughts can be devastating, especially in times of trouble when the soul is already crying out.

I find it so comforting to know that God made me as I am, warts and all!
  • God made me on purpose and for a purpose.
  • I know I have messed that up at points, but I also know that God will not let His purpose for me be easily frustrated.
  • Through Christ, He forgives; He transforms; He makes all things new.
  • Even in the toughest times, I know I am His, because He made me and then saved me.

75 I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right,

It also stabilizes me to know that God´s judgments are right.  Period!  Settled.

So many struggle with things the Bible says about God that does not suit their sensibilities.  Things like
  • Why would God send somebody to hell, especially for all eternity?
  • Why would God command Israel to wipe out whole people groups in the land of Canaan?
  • Why would Jesus be the only way of salvation?  What about Buddhists and others?
It is so unsettling to put ourselves in the place of being God´s judge!

​The only way to keep from being in this uncomfortable position is to settle in our hearts what David testifies to throughout this psalm – namely that God´s Word is perfect.

When I came to the place to believe that in my life, it was such an anchor to my soul!  That does not mean that I never question.  I do.  But if the answer that is coming to my mind points to some portion of God´s Word being wrong, I instantly know that I am in error, and I retreat!

It is so very comforting to know for sure that there is a source of absolute truth – the Word of our God!

in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
This was the subject of yesterday´s blog, but let me just add a word as to why it is an anchor to my soul.  Even when chastening comes, it so comforts and stabilizes me to know that God´s purpose is not punitive but correctional.  In all things, God desires the best for me!

77 Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live;
It also greatly reduces my anxiety from day to day, especially in difficult days, to know that I live by God´s tender mercies and not according to my own merits.  Folks, I would rather have the results of the mercies of the Lord any hour of any day than for God to give me what I deserve! 

Great is Your faithfulness, oh God!  Your mercies are new every morning!
EMAIL BRO. MIKE
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  • Get Connected
    • Contact Us
    • Calendar & Events
    • ACSAccess & Giving
    • Sunday Sermons
    • Wednesday Bible Study
    • Watch Live
    • claunchlcg
  • Get Involved
    • Adults >
      • Small Groups
      • Young Professionals
      • Prayer Groups
    • Students >
      • Students
      • College
    • Kids >
      • Preschool
      • Children
    • Special Needs
    • Music & Worship
    • Missions
    • Panama City Passion Play
    • Food & Clothing
    • Community Medical Center
    • Pregnancy Care
  • Get To Know Us
    • Your Visit
    • Our Leadership
    • Our Beliefs
    • God's Gift To You
    • How To Join
    • Library
    • Building 4 Generations
  • Contact Us