Today's Passage - Psalm 40:9-17

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Psalm 40:9-17    I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, Lord, as you know. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly. Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord; may your love and faithfulness always protect me...    David's life was filled with all kind of difficult circumstances. King Saul envied David and chased him around, and David wandered in the desert for a long time. That's why David was able to write so many psalms, each of them reflecting his excruciating circumstance. Even though David was in all kinds of pain, he kept his heart with a positive and active state. How was he able to do that?   First, David knew how to proclaim God's preciousness in great assemblies. Verse 9 says "I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, Lord, as you know." He understood how to praise God with others. Brothers and sisters, the more suffering and pain you are in, the more you cannot escape from it. Don't ever hide in a corner even though we are often tempted to hide ourselves and don't let anyone to see us. Actually, we need to learn to praise God along with others, to proclaim His preciousness! We need to proclaim that God is a loving God and His grace will come upon us, and also proclaim that God is a righteous God. Everything we proclaim will come true, so let us bring before God everything we need in our daily life, and once again proclaim that Jesus is our Lord and He is also the Lord of our circumstance and our life!   Second, David understood how to speak of God's faithfulness and salvation, and His love and faithfulness. David knew how to speak to His heart, so he continuously spoke to his own heart that God is faithful, God saves and God loves. The more you speak of God's grace and His wonderful nature, the more you will be able to affirm that God is a true God.   Third, we need to seek God's help. Verse 11 says that "Do not withhold your mercy from me." We need to humbly come before God and confess that there's no salvation besides God. You need to once again bring all your needs before God, cry out to Him, and let God extend His arm to save you, to deliver you from all your difficulties and hardship!   Pray with Pastor Tong          Lord, I thank you because you care for us. No matter what kind of hardship we are in, may your Spirit once again raise us up to look upon you and to trust in you. We will proclaim your name and speak of your faithfulness and beauty. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!