Psalm 40:1-8
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 the Lord and put their trust in him. Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods... I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart."
In this passage, the psalmist disciplined himself in four ways in order to overcome the circumstance he was in. First, he waited patiently for the Lord. Verse 1 says that "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry." In other word, we need to wait for the Lord patiently and trust that God will answer our prayer. Brothers and sisters, when you are in hardship, you must believe that our God is sitting on the throne; He knows you, and He knows your needs. He listens to your prayer and is more than willing to answer your prayer. When you have such faith before God, you will be able to seek God and wait upon Him no matter when kind of hardship you are in.
Second, we need to praise God with our voice. Verse 3 says "He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God." We need to praise God out loud even when there isn't much to praise about and give thanks for from human perspective. We need to praise God because of His own beauty. We need to praise God out loud and wholeheartedly and sing a new song. When Bible talks about a new song, it usually implies war. In other word, we don't just sing any song. When you are confronted with spiritual warfare and you are surrendering before God, the new song from your mouth is a song of war, because God will lead us to proclaim victory against the enemy.
Third, we need to trust in God from inside our heart. Verse 4 says that "Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord." We must be steadfast, and we shall come before God by faith to look upon Him and trust in Him, and we will be blessed. Bible mentioned several times that those who trust in God shall not be put to shame, hallelujah!
Finally, fourth, we must follow God faithfully. Verse 8 says "I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart." Psalmist is happy to follow God's will, which means in everything that we do we must faithfully follow God and do what pleases Him, so that God's will for us may be accomplished. Brothers and sisters, no matter what the circumstance is, may the Lord help us to choose to wait patiently, choose to praise out loud, choose to firmly trust God, and choose to follow faithfully. We will then experience God's victory!
Pray with Pastor Tong
Dear Lord, we thank you because no matter what the circumstance is you are still going to lead us. Let us learn to firmly trust in you, faithfully follow you, patiently wait for you and praise you out loud, and you will make way for us! I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
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