Let all those that seek and require You rejoice and be glad in You;
let such as love Your salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified!
[As for me] I am poor and needy, yet the Lord takes thought and plans for me.
You are my Help and my Deliverer. O my God, do not tarry!
Psalms 40:16 and 17
OK, please raise your hands up, everyone who has cried out to God like this…. OK, now hands up—raised in praise—everyone who has cried out to God like this KNOWING that He is your Help…He is your Deliverer…and that He will not tarry. Oh, how we love to praise Him for His goodness, His grace, His help; yes?
There are days when we are feeling so very poor and needy…days when it takes effort, sometimes great effort, to continue to confess the truth that the Lord DOES take thought and DOES have plans for us. God knows this; He knows we struggle. He encourages and revives us with His promises.
For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord,
thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil,
to give you hope in your final outcome.
Then you will call upon Me,
and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you.
Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity]
and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
I will be found by you, says the Lord…
Jeremiah 29:11-14
These are such sustaining promises made to you and me by our Faithful, Trustworthy God. Have you ever considered memorizing God’s promises? What an incredible weapon to have at your disposal—the Word(s) of God that He is faithful to bring to pass! Either of these groups of verses that we have considered today would be wonderful to have at the ready in your memory…for those times when you are feeling poor and needy.
And so I ask you…
Do you seek Him and require Him? Then rejoice and be glad in Him!
Do you love His salvation waiting expectantly for His return? Then say, ‘The Lord be magnified!’
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Oh, Lord, we totally and completely recognize our great need for You! And we know, we absolutely know, that You are our Help and our Deliverer! Thank You, Lord, for the comfort of these promises! We rest in You! Amen.
