"God of... my life, my strength"

    Continuing in our study of descriptions of God found in the Bible, we are beginning to get to the terms that are found only once in the scriptures, so I may choose to combine them, as I have done this week, as this series goes on.

“God of my life”

“The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me – a prayer to the God of my life.” (Psalm 42:8 NKJV)

    Psalm 42 depicts the challenge of being patient during distresses – a portrait of longsuffering with joy. There are pains and hurts described but the overarching theme is confidence that God will help – that there will be reason to praise Him.

    Lovingkindness is a beautiful way to describe God’s mercy. God is in command of it; He will be merciful to whoever He chooses to be merciful (Romans 9:15-16, Exodus 33:19), and His mercies are new every morning – His lovingkindness will not run out – God will always be able to show mercy to whomever He desires (Lamentations 3:22-26).

    What is God’s song that will be with those in distress? I like to think of Zephaniah 3:17 that says, “The LORD you God in your midst, the Mighty One will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, and He will rejoice over you with singing.” (NKJV)  And as we studied last week, God is the “Father of mercies and God of all comfort,” providing us with such comfort in our tribulations that we are steadied and readied to comfort others in their troubles with God’s comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

    When the psalmist considers God’s enduring mercy and love, He cannot help but offer a prayer to the God of his life – the very God who “gives to all life, breath, and all things” (Acts 17:25) and by His divine power “given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:2-4). The God who does not fail (Joshua 21:45, 23:14) and the God who gives us strength to endure (Colossians 1:9-11)! God is in control and is over all – He will help, and there will never cease to be reason to praise Him and thank Him in your life and for your life!

“God of my strength”

“Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man! For you are the God of my strength; why do You cast me off? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” (Psalm 43:1-2 NKJV)

    This psalm is a seeming continuation of Psalm 42 and its opening is so pleading, dark, and desperate, but if you continue in it (please do read it), the confidence the psalmist has in the ‘God of [his] strength’ shines with such beams of comforting light, that he buoys not only his own soul, but ours as we read them now! In both Psalm 42 and Psalm 43, the closing statements are a rebuke against his own soul for doubting God’s help: “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him. The help of my countenance and my God” (v5).  

    The psalmist was in need of enduring strength and he wisely went to the only true and proper source: God. He asked the LORD to send His light and His truth to lead him, to show him the way to His presence – so that he may praise Him (vv3-4)! We have access to the very same God today – a God who provides strength so we can stand and withstand against the wicked one and endure the troubles of this life (Ephesians 6:10-18, 2 Corinthians 4:16, Colossians 1:9-14) – look to His light (John 8:12, Ephesians 5:8-10) and learn His truth (John 14:6, Ephesians 5:15-17, 1 Peter 1:22-25, Romans 2:4-11).

    God gave you life, you were born into this world to seek Him and find Him (Acts 17:26-27). Coming to the light (John 3:19-21), hearing the truth (Romans 10:17, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Ephesians 1:13-14), and baptized into Christ, He granted you newness of life (Romans 6:1-4)! This same God is also the source for all the strength we need to endure and overcome whatever we may face in this world.  

    Is He the God of your life? Is He the God of your strength? Do you acknowledge Him as the giver of life and provider of strength, do you run to Him for all that pertains to life and find strength in His light and truth?

    God has given us SO much and He has SO much more give, if we but turn to Him and rely on Him to help!

“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” (Psalm 34:8)

You can do it! So can I!!