Doves,

Nothing short of the Rapture will happen to keep you and I from experiencing the fiscal tsunami

threatening our nation and world. The party is over.As a nation, we no longer have the will to correct the things that brought it about, which means that there will be drastic changes ahead.

 

There is, however, a very intriguing chapter in the Word of God which has caught my attention. It

is Psalm 31.

 

Interspersed within its verses are clues as to how one particular man, David, overcame

the personal situations and trials he was facing as king of Israel.  It is critically important that we as

Christians absorb its lessons into our minds, particularly at this time. 

 

 

Fear hath torment.  Fear is nothing but rejection of faith.  Lack of food; lack of money; no jobs; rising prices; a collapsing economy. Fear of death; fear of sickness and disease; plagues; murders. These, and a thousand other similar thoughts bring you and I to forget God. David describes them a “lying vanities”.  

 

“IN THEE, O LORD, DO I PUT MY TRUST. LET ME NEVER BE ASHAMED: DELIVER ME IN THY RIGHTEOUSNESS.

BOW DOWN THINE EAR TO ME; DELIVER ME SPEEDILY: BE THOU MY STRONG ROCK, FOR A HOUSE OF DEFENSE TO SAVE ME. FOR THOU ART MY ROCK AND MY FORTRESS; THEREFORE FOR THY NAME’S SAKE LEAD ME, AND GUIDE ME.”

 

Whenever David began to write Psalm 31, the first words he spoke in this prayer to God were an affirmation of His need and a description of what he had learned of God’s faithfulness in past situations.

“THOU ART MY ROCK AND MY FORTRESS”.

David describes the reward he expects in God: I WILL BE GLAD AND REJOICE IN THY MERCIES; for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities. 

 

God’s watchful eye over his welfare; His ever-present help in time of trouble; His awesome power to change circumstances; The same God who feeds the sparrows and writes our very names upon the palm of His hand. The same yesterday, today, and forever, our eternal Father in heaven.” Ironically, it is into God’s hand David wrote '’I COMMIT MY SPIRIT, THOU HAST REDEEMED ME, O LORD OF TRUTH”.

 

David had had many adversities, MY LIFE IS SPENT WITH GRIEF AND MY YEARS WITH SIGHING.  A glorious

kingship?  No. Rather, he wrote “I WAS A REPROACH AMONG ALL MINE ENEMIES...WHILE THEY TOOK COUNSEL TOGETHER AGAINST ME, THEY DEVISED TO TAKE AWAY MY LIFE...I AM FORGOTTEN AS A DEAD MAN OUT OF MIND: I AM LIKE A BROKEN VESSEL”.

 

Yet look at what he reminded himself: “BUT I TRUSTED IN THEE, O LORD:  I SAID THOU ART MY GOD...

MY TIMES ARE IN THY HAND.”   

 

Brothers and sisters in Christ:  We need to remind ourselves to pray and put our trust in God.  Our times remain in OUR hands unless we fail to release those times of distress and troubles, fears and anxieties into GOD’s HAND with faith in His love for us.

 

 

The other day I went shopping .  The wind was blowing about 60 mph, so it was very difficult for me to even hold the door to my vehicle.  I managed to load my packages.  After I did, I drove down the highway intending to stop for groceries.  After I parked, I reached for my purse.  IT WASN’T THERE!  I panicked and became very worried.  My credit cards!  My money!  All that was important...even my driver’s license!

 

I immediately sped off to the place where I last had it...all the way praying, “O GOD!  Help me! You are an ever-present help in time of trouble...and I am in trouble right now!” I told the Lord.  Then the Holy Spirit said to me, “I heard your prayer, now praise Me!”

 

I stopped praying and began to praise Him.  After I went back into the store, I went to the service desk and asked if anyone had brought it to them.  No, but they would send someone to the office. 

 

In about ten minutes, she returned with MY BAG!!!  I was so happy I could not help but shout in the presence of about 30 people there: THANK YOU, LORD!!!  THANK YOU JESUS!

 

 

No wonder that David then ended his psalm with praise:

 

 

OH HOW GREAT IS THY GOODNESS WHICH THOU HAST LAID UP FOR THEM THAT FEAR THEE; WHICH THOU HAS WROUGHT FOR THEM THAT TRUST IN THEE BEFORE THE SONS OF MEN!   FOR I SAID IN MY HASTE, I AM CUT OFF FROM BEFORE THINE EYES: NEVERTHELESS THOU HEARDEST THE VOICE OF MY SUPPICATIONS WHEN I CRIED UNTO THEE.

 

O LOVE THE LORD, ALL YE HIS SAINTS: FOR THE LORD PRESERVETH THE FAITHFUL AND PLENTIFULLY REWARDETH THE PROUD DOER. BE OF GOOD COURAGE, AND HE SHALL STRENGTHEN YOUR HEART, ALL YE THAT HOPE IN THE LORD.

 

Amen!

 

 

MARY E. ADAMS