TGFABT – Psalm 13
“But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.”
Psalm 13:5-6
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Have I ever asked God “How long?”
Have I ever thought of God asking me “How long?”
“How longs” are easier to endure when we:
- Remain humble before God. (Exodus 10:3)
- Willingly obey God’s commands and instructions. (Exodus 16:28)
- Treat God with respect. (Numbers 14:11)
- Believe in God. (Numbers 14:11)
- Maintain a heart of gratitude. (Numbers 14:27)
- Trusting in God’s unfailing love. (Psalm 13:5)
- Sing unto the Lord. (Psalm 13:6)
Truth
Walk in a right-standing with God so I don’t have to hear God say “How long Wendy?” This one hit me right between the eyes–right in my heart.
Word Study
Psalm 13:3
“How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily?”
This KJV really rocked me girls.
The word counsel (wrestle with my thoughts -NIV) is etsah (ay-tsaw’) and means to counsel, give advice, purpose, and plan. How often do I counsel and advise myself? How often to I make my own plans and define my own purpose? Girls, this is soooo dangerous for me and for you. We can’t see the big picture. We aren’t all knowing and therefore are not capable of making the right plans for or giving sound counsel to ourselves.
In moments of weakness, in the dark places and seasons of life it is hard not to start devising our own plans and giving ourselves counsel. This is when we need to press pause and make a withdrawal from our memory bank of God’s faithfulness. Remembering His faithfulness will overpower the doubt and replace it with hope.
“Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!
Thankful
I am so thankful God is the keeper of time. He has adjusted my schedule and freed up some time for me. What relief to know He is always looking ahead of me.
Faith Stretching/Strengthening
God is strengthening my faith as I watch Him take my schedule and just handle it. I sense His careful guidance and wisdom as I plan and pack. He has taken all my anxieties away.
Wow! I am always amazed at God’s Word and how God gives Wendy insight and wisdom into the Psalm! How convicting to take God’s perspective and wonder how often he asks of me “How long?” Sobering thought as I begin this week.
My truth to remember is thankfulness and faithfulness can transform my heart in the midst of the “how longs?”
“How long” have I asked this question even in recent days, months, years? Too many times and each time I had to remember all in God’s timing not mine. I think too how many times it took for me to hear God say to me, you are not listening to me and following my command to cast your cares upon me. I am so glad for this Psalm and Wendy’s insight. I don’t want God to keep on asking me how long????
Have a great day!
Psalms 13:6 is so true because he truly has been good me, and I trust he will continue to be.
My todays truth is I will always be grateful the Lord even through difficult circumstances.
Wow! I’m feeling convicted too. I need to change my attitude to a state of gratitude! I try to be a positive person but sometimes when other people around me are negative I find myself being pulled in. I know that God has on more than one occasion wondered “how long” from me. Great insight from Wendy and all of you!
As I watched the video, I began to tear up as I thought about God asking me “How long.” I put my name into some “how long” phrases; “How long will Tara not trust me”, “How long will Tara grumble against me”, “How long will Tara sin against me.” Doing this really convicted me that I do not trust God enough in my daily life and if He died for me, the very least I can do is put my trust in Him. He has never failed me before and He never will. What a powerful lesson for me today.
The e-book study contained one of my favorite verses today. 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” My truth today is that I all too often question the “how longs” in my life and I need to stop this behavior because God’s got it! He is bigger and stronger and mightier than my stuggles! Thank you Jesus for that!
Tara, 1 Peter 5:7 is one of my favorite verses. I just used it at a closing dinner where I had to share my grief journey. In all of our times of not knowing what to do, this verse is so important. Just to know that God is always there to carry whatever we have going on in our lives. He lightens our load daily. May God lighten the load of each and every one of you, no matter what it is.
I am also amazed on the way Wendy translated this chapter. After facilitating so many sessions of GriefShare I know that we have to wait for God’s timing in our life. That asking the how long question is not going to do much good because God works on a timeline that he knows is best for us but I never thought it in this way of God asking me how long? I’m sure if I really listen hard enought there are times that He is askig me that question each day. I really need to put much thought and prayer into this lesson.
Word Wednesday–unfailing. God has unfailing love for me even though I fail so often and do not heed his word. He never gives up on me when I want to give up on myself. Thank you God!
This message was also an eye opener to me. Not only does God have to ask “how long, Kim” but this can be applied in so many areas of my life.
Today’s truth: How long does my husband have to wait…
How long does the church have to wait…
How long do my parents have to wait…
Etc etc etc
If we are truthful with ourselves we will know how often times we are so consumed with our own desires we neglect the needs of others. Especially God!
Thankful for my grandchildren they are such of blessing from God:)
I agree with Wendy’s word study comments…it is so easy to counsel myself instead of taking counsel from God’s Word and by praying. In the e-book study this week she talks abouthow David’s natural instinct -it became spiritual. David knew praying would bring peace of mind.
I am thankful we have a God who cares for us and wants us to cast all our cares on Him!
God is stretching me to have his perspective and try to see myself through His eyes.
I just love that although David is honest and pours out his heart by questioning God with How long? four times, he comes back at the end of the Psalm and states his trust in God’s unfailing love and rejoices in His salvation and then praises God! What an awesome reminder and example. It is okay to be honest with God about our feelings. We are human and God understands that, but He doesn’t want us to stay in a pit of depsair. We need to then voice our trust in Him, rejoice in our salvation and praise Him!
Faith stretching! I reached out to a family member just checking in and he finally asked for my help, the help that I continued to pray to God that he would be able to touch his heart and lead him on the right path to good that God offers him. God is good and I will continue to let him take control. I am to do what I can do and God will always do the rest. Have a great weekend ladies!