Hey all! I have a blog post coming soon about our past month serving in Ukraine, but, fast forward to today, & we’re serving alongside Muslim friends in a restaurant in Jordan! I have so much I want to update you all with ministry-wise, but wanted to send out a quick New-Year post!
Can you believe it?! The year of 2021 is completed! To start off 2022, I’d like to share a Psalm that was really dear to me from last year. It’s a Psalm by David toward the end of his life, reflecting on God’s faithfulness. Psalm 71.
1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
2 In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
turn your ear to me and save me.
3 Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.
5 For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,
my confidence since my youth.
6 From birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
I will ever praise you.
7 I have become a sign to many;
you are my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendor all day long.
9 Do not cast me away when I am old;
do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
10 For my enemies speak against me;
those who wait to kill me conspire together.
11 They say, “God has forsaken him;
pursue him and seize him,
for no one will rescue him.”
12 Do not be far from me, my God;
come quickly, God, to help me.
13 May my accusers perish in shame;
may those who want to harm me
be covered with scorn and disgrace.
14 As for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
of your saving acts all day long—
though I know not how to relate them all.
16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;
I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
17 Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
18 Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come.
19 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,
you who have done great things.
Who is like you, God?
20 Though you have made me see troubles,
many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.
21 You will increase my honor
and comfort me once more.
22 I will praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you—
I whom you have delivered.
24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
have been put to shame and confusion.
David reflects on the up’s and down’s of his life, and how God was near and present–faithful through it all. Verse 14 in particular has really expanded my love for God: “As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.” It has inspired me time and time again that every trial and every blessing is an opportunity to increase my praise toward God. That worship would be a regular part of my day (v. 8 & 17), and that my heart would be oriented to seeing reasons (as they are all around) to praise Him yet more, than I already am. I pray that your reflection of your past year, both the difficult and the celebratory, would give you more reasons to praise God and put your hope in Him alone.
