The God of And

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble;
May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;
May He send you help from the sanctuary, 

And strengthen you out of Zion;
May He remember all your offerings, 

And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah
May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, 

And fulfill all your purpose.

Psalm 20:4 NKJV

I can't tell you how many times I've read this Psalm, and yet today, it was as though I saw it for the first time. God is good and so much more! 

Lately, I have been laboring with the feeling of failure as a Christian. I have questioned my purpose - I think I know, but do I? I think I can, but can I really? I don't want to be the one who cries, "Lord! Lord!" only to have HIM reply, "Depart from Me - I never knew you." 

Reading in Philippians 2 and following with verse 4 of this Psalm today, I realize I have been so in error thinking that I alone am responsible for fulfilling the purpose of my life! In Philippians 2, we're told in the NIV, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

I lost sight of God's promise and His Grace to work in me to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. We can't do it without His help AND He doesn't expect us to!

And so He offers to send help AND strengthen us. To remember our offerings AND accept our sacrifices. To grant our heart's desire AND fulfill our purpose. To extend His mercy AND His grace. To love AND forgive...

Prayer:

Father,

          We want to know You more and to be known by You. We want to be completely transparent with You. We are obviously too weak to go the distance in our own strength. We need Your grace in more ways than we can articulate, to run this race and to fulfill Your purpose for our lives. We lay our lives at Your feet to have the one thing that is needed. Your presence, Your Word. As we work it out, work it in, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen