My Heart... His Words

My Scripture reading this morning included a song of deliverance sung by David after God had spared his life from an attack by Saul.

As I read, I underlined phrases like,

"He drew me out of deep waters,"

"He rescued me because He delighted in me,"

"All His laws are before me,"

"You are my lamp, O Lord; The Lord turns my darkness into light."

I thought about the power in each of these lines and how God longs to be just as faithful, just as present in our lives today as He was in the life of David.

I thought about so many who are facing deep waters this very morning, struggling to stay afloat in the midst of illnesses and marriage problems. I pray for them because I know their pain firsthand, but I also know the power of a living God who promises to be with them as they pass through these waters.

Life can be so difficult, and yet opening God's Word and reading promises like the ones above can carry us forward through the darkest days.

Something else can happen when we open His Word, too.

We can be carried back to former days of trusting Him.

I believe one of David's secrets to facing the uncertainty of each new day as he was being pursued was taking time to reflect on all the times God had protected Him in the past.

I can almost picture him sitting on a rock in a field or a cave with some sort of stringed instrument creating lyrics to remind himself of just how thankful he was for every law, every promise, every act of mercy from the hand of God.

As I read on in the Bible this morning, I came to this verse:

The law of the Lord is perfect,

refreshing the soul.

The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,

making wise the simple.

Psalm 19:7

I felt something stir deep within me as I read this verse several times before being able to move on to the next part of the passage.

These words spoke deeply to me in the quiet of this morning.

I could almost hear the words being sung out loud because they immediately took me back to my teenage years.

They took me back to this little, worn out book that still sits on my piano in my family room - a book I played from Sunday after Sunday during communion and offering at my home church over thirty years ago.

I had to get up this morning and photograph this book and this song in particular,

because I can remember playing it over and over again as I hid the lyrics deep within my heart as a young girl.

The law of the Lord is perfect,

Converting the soul;

The testimony of the Lord is sure,

Making wise the simple.\More to be desired are they than gold.

Yea, than much fine gold:

Sweeter also than honey

And the honeycomb.

The statues of the Lord are right,

Rejoicing the heart:

The commandment of the Lord is pure,

Enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is clean,

Enduring forever;

The judgments of the Lord are true

And righteous altogether.

Let the words of my mouth

And the meditation of my heart,

Be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord,

My strength, and my redeemer.

Moreover by them is Thy servant warned:

Is Thy servant warned:

And in keeping of them there is

Great reward.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/ns/281#ixzz2yNiBOEQ3

Little did I know at that time in my life that over three decades later I would be sitting alone in my own home and these same words would once again bless me in such a powerful way.

Little did I know then just how desperately I would cling to the law of the Lord throughout my lifetime and just how faithful God would be through so many different chapters of joy and sorrow.

This morning, my time with God has given me just what I need to carry me forward through another day, but it has also carried me backward to a sweet time in my life when leaning on God was innocent and unaware of just how painful life would become.

I'm thankful this morning for the power of God's Word to work both ways in my life.

I want to press forward in my faith, but I never want to forget the faithfulness of God over the years.

I also never want to forget the love I have had for Him for so very long.

If you click on the link below you can listen to the song above as it is being sung.

It's definitely an older song, but I believe the words (which are based almost directly on Scripture) will bless your day.

CLICK HERE

(The link may only work if you read my blog directly from the web address and not from a Facebook click: www.tammynischan.blogspot.com)

I love you all so much.

When you open God's Word, ask Him to not only carry you forward but also carry you backward to sweet memories of His faithfulness in your past.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

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