April 24, 2002
Reading
“Out of the depths I
have cried to You, O LORD” (1)
How true to life the scriptures
are! David, that mighty man of God, is in the depths of depression and guilt
because of his sins and those of his people. Our enemy, the devil, loves those
“D” words, doesn’t he? – depression, doubt,
discouragement, and disappointment. The fastest way to fall into these pits is
to “yield” (KJV) ourselves “as instruments of unrighteousness to sin,” instead
of “instruments of righteousness to God” Rom
As we read these words, let’s turn them into an expression of “thanks.”
“Lord, I thank you that You hear my voice. That my supplication is not background noise, but You are attentive to my cry for help” (2).
“Lord, I thank You my sins and iniquities have been dealt with by the blood of Christ. I thank You that You do not hold me accountable for my sins” (3).
Lord, I thank You that You are a God who forgives (4). “We have sinned against You. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him” Dan 9:8-10.
“Lord, I thank You I can trust You to fulfill Your plan for my life. I wait on You to conform me to the image of Your Son, Jesus. I wait on You to show me the next step. I wait on You to lead me. As I wait, I will read Your Word – I know You will speak to me through it” (5).
Lord, I thank You for the confidence You have given me as I wait on You. I thank You for the great expectancy You have given me that You will be faithful to Your promises” (6).
“Lord, I thank You for Your mercy to me. I thank You, because Your Son died for me. I thank You that you do not engulf me with Your wrath - I thank You He suffered that for me” (7).
“Lord, I thank You for redeeming my soul. I thank You because You redeemed me with an “abundant redemption.” Continue to enlighten my soul so I can understand more of the abundance of my redemption” (7).
“Lord, thank You for Your promise to redeem Your people from all our iniquities (8). Thank You for bringing Jew and Gentile together, for breaking down the wall that separated us, thereby making one new man – the Israel of God” Gal 6:16.
There is only one way out of the “slough of despond” – cry out to God and wait for Him to lift us out. We do not have to continuously hammer on His door – He hears us and is attentive to our cry. He will not make us wait long, for He is ready to help in the time of need, “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You” Ps 86:5.
“From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I” Ps 61:2. God will always hear and answer our cry for help. His hand is there for us to grasp. He will always lift us from the pit of despair and lead us to Jesus, the Rock that is higher and more secure than all other. This is a part of our “abundant redemption” – a part of our inheritance as children of God.