Getting the right foot forward

Psalm 143 NLT

A psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my plea! Answer me because you are faithful and righteous. Don’t put your servant on trial, for no one is innocent before you. My enemy has chased me. He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave. I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear. I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done. I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. Interlude Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die. Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life. Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress. In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies and destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.

Have you ever felt discouraged?

You are in good company.

In this passage David’s anguish is all but clear. He talks about his deepening depression and how he has been pursued by his enemy who has knocked him to the ground. In other words David is feeling defeated?

Have you ever felt defeated?

David talks about being paralyzed with fear, losing hope and longing for the way things used to be.

You can’t tell me the bible is not still relevant because I know exactly what David is describing and I trust I am not alone.

We all know what it is like to get discouraged, wanting to give up, feeling defeated and hopeless.

So the question I want to answer is

How do we keep from giving up when we feel like that?

David gives us the answer.

Trust In God

Me: I’ve told you before I can not find things in my own home. So I have learned if I can not find something all I need to do is ask my wife. She is the One who knows! She is the one to ask. It may drive her nuts, but she’s the one who hides everything. I leave it out lying around so I can find it. But I go back and it’s gone. But she always knows. But this afternoon she was away and I couldn’t find my air nozzle so I had to call Clayton to borrow his.

We: Seems like we all know those type of people if seems like you can always rely on. But what happens when they are not there to rely on.

God: That is the wonderful thing about God. He is always there to rely on. And David knew it. Listen to verses 8-10 again.

Psalm 143:8–10 NLT

Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.

David knew that in the midst of his sorrow in order to get out of the pit he needed to step with the right foot forward and that only happens when we surrender our steps to God.

You: I know for many this last few weeks have been quite trying. But this fall I encourage you to set out with the right foot forward by doing what David did.

We: we need to trust in God the only one who is always there and who is always reliable. He will guide our steps and He is faithful.

Next Step: May his unfailing life find us each morning.