April 27, 2020: SOAP #3798:  2Samuel 2; 1Chronicles 11; Psalm 142; Matthew 14

Scripture:  Psalm (NIV) 142:5 I cry to you, O LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” 6 Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. 7 Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.

Observation:  Why did David want to be free from prison?  …here’s why…  “…that I may praise your name!”  His report of God’s goodness to him would cause his friends to gather nearby and he would report to them what God had done for him!

Application:   Why do I want God to do things for me?  Obviously, I want to have life a little easier.  I do not like to struggle.  I do not like to be restricted.  Oh, yes, I will give God some praise, but that is not the priority for my request.

His glory should be the reason for all my requests.  My worship and praise should start even before I receive the answer to my prayers.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I can see that in many ways I am still the center of my life.  Forgive me for seeing things only as they affect me.  May I see every struggle as an opportunity to demonstrate that it is worth any struggle to serve you.  May I see every victory as an opportunity to give you the glory.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!