Psalm 116:1-9 (The Message version) I love God because he listened to me, listened as I begged for mercy. He listened so intently as I laid out my case before him. Death stared me in the face, hell was hard on my heels. Up against it, I didn't know which way to turn; then I called out to God for help: "Please, God!" I cried out. "Save my life!" God is gracious - it is he who makes things right, our most compassionate God. God takes the side of the helpless; when I was at the end of my rope, he saved me. I said to myself, "Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings. Soul, you've been rescued from death; Eye, you've been rescued from tears; And you, Foot, were kept from stumbling." I'm striding in the presence of God, alive in the land of the living!
You and I should have a list, perhaps a mental one, of all that God has done for us. In the movie, WarRoom, there was a framed list on the wall of a woman's prayer room entitled "Answered Prayers," and on it were handwritten, the prayers that God had answered. It's a lovely thought, but I soon thought, too small! God answers all our prayers, and soon a wall-sized list would not be enough if we are truly honest with ourselves.
The life of David, the psalmist is laid out in most of the psalms. In this one, and in this version, we see his gratitude towards God and God's action and involvement in his life:
I love God, because God listened to me. Check, God's done that for me. I love God, because God listened as I begged for mercy. Check. I love God, because I laid out my case before Him. Check. I love God, because death stared me in the face. Double, or triple or million checks. I love God, because hell was hard on my heels. Again, many checks. I love God, because when I didn't know where to turn, God helped me. Check. I love God, because I called out, "Please, God!" Check. I love God, because I cried out, "Save my life!" Many checks. I love God because God is gracious. Check. I love God, because God makes things right. Check. I love God, because God is compassionate. Check. I love God, because God takes the side of the helpless. Many checks. I love God, because God was there when I was at the end of my rope. Check. I love God, because God saved me. Check. I love God, because God helped me rest. Check. I love God, because God has showered me with many blessings. Check. I love God, because God has rescued my soul from death. Multiple checks. I love God, because God has rescued my eyes from tears. Many checks. But it's okay to cry. I love God, because God has kept my foot from stumbling. Check. I love God, because God has me striding in the His presence. Check! I love God, because I am alive in the land of the living! Many checks. I love God, because God first loved me. Millions of checks.
PRAYER: I love you, God! Amen!
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
I love you, too!
Eradio Valverde
