God In My Corner

Welcome to our daily conversation with God! If you'd like to read it regularly, please use the appropriate link on the right column. Today we're letting God speak to us from Psalm 35. Voice this prayer with me. What most resonates with you? I found both an assurance and a great purpose to carry with me. First, the assurance:

The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant. (v. 27)

Michele pointed out in yesterday's entry that a trouble-free life would leave us feeling independent and without need of God, even though he would be the one eliminating all our problems. That is one reason he allows us to go through times when our faith is both tested and refined. But at the same time, the above statement from verse 27 assures me that God is always for me, not against me, when I have given him my life.

That's important because every temptation I face to do wrong basically is rooted in the lie that God's way isn't the best, that he is holding out on me. And every time I feel discouraged in the middle of life's troubles and stresses, it's because I wonder if God has turned his back on me. As someone I know recently complained, "Why should I keep believing in God? He's doing nothing for me!"

But God is telling me that he delights in my well-being. He is for me, not against me. He is wise enough to know what is best for me and loving enough to want to give it to me. When I flourish, he is delighted! And the reality is that my best growth often comes through the challenges and failures. So he allows those too. But even then God's ultimate purpose for me is to see me flourish and become all that he dreams for me. With that confidence, I can carry with me the purpose that David had for his life:

My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long. (v. 28)

Knowing that God is in my corner, rooting me on, I will go about each day with this intention--not just thinking of him or avoiding sin but also looking for every opportunity to put in a good word about God. I will honor the God who loves me as his own child by speaking his praises. When I am blessed, I can acknowledge that with my mouth. Instead of saying, "Wow, I sure am lucky!" I can say, "Wow! God sure is good!" That will both increase my feeling of closeness to him and point others to him. See how many times you can speak of his goodness today!

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