The rock to stand upon

Rev Ruth Kennedy November 10, 2023 5 3

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Psalm 40: 1-3 (MSG)

1-3 I waited and waited and waited for God.
    At last he looked; finally he listened.
He lifted me out of the ditch,
    pulled me from deep mud.
He stood me up on a solid rock
    to make sure I wouldn’t slip.
He taught me how to sing the latest God-song,
    a praise-song to our God.
More and more people are seeing this:
    they enter the mystery,
    abandoning themselves to God.

Taken from a low point, out of the ditch lifted up to a solid rock. I wonder if there was a good view from that solid rock in this psalm?

Have you ever been encouraged by someone to keep going? Maybe you are that encourager! When you are hiking up a mountain you often need a bit of encouragement to persevere. And the ones who are most eager to give it are those who have made it to the top and are on their merry way back down again,

‘Not long now’,

‘You’re nearly at the top’.

‘The view from the top makes it worth it!’

‘I waited and waited and waited for God.’ Maybe this is you. Maybe it is your friend.

How can we encourage each other if we are waiting, needing God to pull us up out the ditch?

Perhaps you are standing on the rock, with a view of God that is so inspiring, you are singing, your heart is bursting into song because He is so beautiful to look at, believe in, rest in. Can you encourage a friend with your God-song? Musically or not!

Keep on trusting

God still loves you

Trusting in Jesus is worth it

God sees you.

Prayer:

God who sees me, El Roi is your name.

You see me stuck in a ditch, you see me crying out to you, you see me taking your hand, you see me placing my feet on that solid rock you stand me on.

You see me singing to you. You see me singing about you. You see me encouraging others. You see me. You love me.

Holy Spirit I ask for words of encouragement and kindness for a friend today and the opportunity to share them.

Jesus, help me see others the way you see them, with eyes of grace and compassion. Keep me from slipping into the mud of judgment and arrogance towards others because I think they are in a ditch.

Father, please be quick to hear our cries when we slip, forgive us and restore us to the place where we see your beauty.

God who sees me, see the others around me too. Bless them and keep them, make your face shine upon them and give them your peace.

For I see you in every sunrise and you are beautiful.

Amen.