The Psalms have brought tremendous comfort and guidance to so many for so long. Join me in taking a fresh look at each Psalm. As you read through them, I urge you to reflect, pray, and apply these devotional bits of encouragement to your own life. Today, we study and reflect on Psalms 70, 71, and 72.
Reflection 1
“Come quickly… Do not delay.” God is never late. We are just impatient. Do you believe that? I am often asked this question of timing: “Why does God answer some prayers and not others?” It’s a fair and honest question. The simple answer is that I don’t know, and nobody really knows all there is to know about prayer. We do know that God’s timing is different than ours. His wisdom is greater. His ways are not our ways. He loves us, sees the big picture, and has our best interest at heart. We live in a fallen world where bad and sad things happen. Heaven will be perfect, but in this life, there will be challenges, disappointments, and losses. While I don’t know all there is to know about prayer, there is one thing I do know: I must pray and trust in His timing, wisdom, and power. My job is to pray. Sometimes His answer is “Yes,” and sometimes it’s “No.” Other times, He says, “Not now.” Maybe He tells me to get to work when He wants me to be a part of the answer. God is good. We can trust in His timing. Keep praying. Keep believing. Keep trusting. God wants to work in you as you pray, and He wants to work on the circumstances about which you pray.
“Hasten, O God, to save me; come quickly, Lord, to help me. But as for me, I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; Lord, do not delay.” — Psalms 70:1, 5
Reflection 2
Over and over again we read in the Psalms that God is our refuge, rock, fortress, rescuer, and deliverer. Because of that, I will always have hope. Regardless of our circumstances, we can have hope. Think about that today. Hope is vital. Without hope, we are devastated and undone. Many people today feel hopeless because of their aloneness, scarcity of finances, job situation, loss of one kind or another, health, and so much more. Remember that we serve a God of hope. When we place our faith and trust in Him, He gives us hope. In Him and because of Him, I will always have hope for this life and hope for the life to come. In Christ, we are never without hope, regardless of how dark life may seem. Remember today, He is your rock and fortress and deliverer. Be hopeful!
“In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear to me and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel. For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you. As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.” — Psalms 71:1-6, 14
Reflection 3
God is on the side of the afflicted, weak, needy, and oppressed. He cares for the broken-hearted and comforts those who mourn. He strengthens the powerless, encourages the downtrodden, and gives rest to the weary. He is always with you. He is always for you. He loves you more than you could ever know. Believe it!
“For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.” — Psalms 72:12-14