Faith is the Victory Dear Sisters and Brothers, When I encounter hopelessness and depression I have to do something more than engage in fight or flight. Psalm 143 shows me a better way. There I see the Psalmist David is desperate. He cries out, "O Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief." (verse 1) Like David, I must admit I sometimes feel like declaring, "my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed" (verse 4). As I continue to meditate on Psalm 143 I see that not only does David identify with my needs but he also shares some very practical steps to live victoriously when it seems that the world is falling apart. He says, "I remember the days of long ago" (verse 5). There I see that the first step for victoriously living, David says, is recalling the situations God brought me through in the past as I trusted Him when the situation seemed hopeless. (Example, 1 Sam.30:1-20) The second thing David does is to meditate not only on the promise of God's Word but also upon the wonders of His works. This includes not only God's miraculous intervention in times of hopelessness but also the works and wonders of His creation. The wonders of God's works go far beyond creation. As John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life". Remembering and meditating on God's works is important if it leads to direct action. In David's case, that direct action first involved earnest prayer. "I spread out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land" (verse 6). There I see that real prayer springe from a thirsting desire for God. It's an inward cry of "answer me quickly, O Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide Your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit" (vs.7). As you and I pray, we must pray trusting God and His goodness and love. Such faith causes us to profess our trust in the Lord and our desire to do His will. "Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul" (verse 8). "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground" (verse 10).
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