VIP Ministry Network

Psalm 40

     If we can say from our own personal experience that God is willing and able to save us, we can live through any challenge that the life provides with us. Once we have such conviction that God is with us we are not afraid of anything as long as we do not break that relationship with God. Here, the psalmist expressed his confidence and he wants to share it with others.

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog,and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. Happy are those who make the Lord their trust, who do not turn to the proud,  to those who go astray after false gods. You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you. Were I to proclaim and tell of them, they would be more than can be counted.”

Actually sharing our experiences of God’s love and salvation is better than sacrifices and offerings. God wants us to share it with others. God wants us to witness to God’s power and love to many people: “Sacrifice and offering you do not desire but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering  you have not required. Then I said, ‘Here I am; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do your will, O my God;  your law is within my heart.’ I have told the glad news of deliverance  in the great congregation; see, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord. I have not hidden your saving help within my heart, I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.”

     When we witness to God’s power and love, we can also ask God to help us without hesitation. “Do not, O Lord, withhold your mercy from me; let your steadfast love and your faithfulness keep me safe forever. For evils have encompassed me without number; my iniquities have overtaken me, until I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails me. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me. Let all those be put to shame and confusion who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire my hurt. Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, ‘Aha, Aha!’ But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, ‘Great is the Lord!’ As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God.”

I hope that you can also experience God’s power and love at the personal level so that you can witness to them to others with confidence and pride.