Out of the Depths I Have Cried to Thee, O LORD

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Out of the Depths I Have Cried to Thee, O LORD

Just like the psalmist,  we all  have needs  that we must present  to the LORD — simply because  there is no other possibility  of help.      No one else  has the knowledge,  wisdom,  love,  or power  to help.      We need the impossible — and only God Almighty  can do that.

We need to listen  to the psalmist  of long ago  because his prayer for help  expresses a number  of truths  we need to realize  as we pray.      Psalm 130  is in God’s word  because it is something  God wants us  to take comfort in  and learn from.      It says,  in its entirety,

Out of the depths  I have cried to Thee,  O LORD.
Lord,  hear  my voice!
Let Thine ears  be attentive
To the voice  of my supplications.
If Thou,  LORD,  shouldst mark  iniquities,
O Lord,  who could stand?
But  there is forgiveness  with Thee,
That Thou  mayest be feared.

I wait for the LORD,  my soul  does wait,
And in His word  do I hope.
My soul waits  for the LORD
More than the watchmen  for the morning;
Indeed,  more than the watchmen  for the morning.
O Israel,  hope  in the LORD;
For with the LORD  there is  lovingkindness,
And with Him  is abundant  redemption.
And He will  redeem Israel
From all  his iniquities.

We all have times  when we’re in the depths  of despair.      It’s a part of life — and it’s good for us.      We need  to have many chances  to realize  that God alone  is the Almighty.      If everything  was always hunky-dory,  we would soon be  under the false impression  that we are in control  of things  and don’t need God  for anything.

With that sort of attitude  we would certainly be headed  straight for hell,  because  we would not be acknowledging  our many weaknesses  and sins.      We need to be  fully aware  that as human beings,  we did not  create ourselves  and we cannot  erase all our sins  or make ourselves worthy  of heaven.      So,  in love and compassion,  God allows us  to go through  various trials  and temptations,  to refine our faith,  to make us grow  in His grace and truth,  and to cause us  to come out  as pure gold.

With those truths  in mind,  the psalmist shows  a deep reverence  for God’s willingness  to forgive all our sins — just so that  we can be clean enough  to stand before the Lord , and learn  to have respect  for Him.      Being cleansed  of all our sins  and learning to have respect  for the Lord  are two marvelous gifts  of God’s grace  in bringing us  to a saving faith.      Those are things  we can’t do  by our own will power.

Because of this  grace and love,  the psalmist willingly waits  for the LORD  to answer his prayers — all  according to  God’s wisdom,  timing,  and loving.      His whole soul waits — resting in the “abundant redemption” that surely will come  from the LORD — because,  God is love,  and we dare not  forget that.

As we wait and hope  in the LORD,  we say,  “Hallelujah!      LORD,  it is wondrous  how You are so patient  and kind  in growing our faith by  letting us  go through the depths  of our dependency  upon You.      Nourish our faith  through the truths  in Your word.”

Love,
Margaret

 

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

at 123hallelujah.wordpress.com

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Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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