Psalm 43
Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation;
Rescue me from deceitful and wicked men.
You are my God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me?
Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?
Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me;
Let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.
Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Reading this, I wonder how many people around the world pray this daily…
This morning I went to the beach to have one last day alone at my favorite beach. I really wanted to hear some encouragement from God but I just didn’t know where to go in my Bible. So I just prayed.
Thanking God for my wonderful morning and just for the chance to be able to be at a beach, He brought the people of Haiti to my mind. Haiti isn’t one of my countries I will be going to, but a friend recently told me about her stories in Haiti. How children just want to be loved and comforted by someone holding them. How they can live their whole lives being just miles from the beach and had never actually seen it because of their poverty. This broke my heart because I believe that the ocean is a great part of God’s proof of existence.
So then I just opened my Bible and read the first thing I saw, which was Psalm 43. It made me think even more of Haiti and of all the other countries out there where people are suffering and needing to be rescued. From ungodly nations, deceitful and wicked men, and oppression.
It might be easy in some countries for people to just see God’s beautiful creation and believe that He exists, but what about those who don’t have that opportunity? How will they know there is someone who loves them enough to save them? To keep them strong through the rough times of this life?
They need someone to bring light and truth. John 1: 4-5 describes Jesus Christ as the light of the world, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” As believers of Christ, we are His light to the world so that they may see Him and believe (Matthew 5:14 & 16).
Because people around the world are suffering and praying Psalm 43, or something like it, He sends His followers out to bring light and truth and to guide others to Him. I am so glad to see God doing this through the World Race and other opportunities with my friends. My roomate is currently in Haiti for 3 months serving Christ by bringing his light and truth and sharing His love with children at an orphanage. She has an amazing light for Christ and I love knowing that she is shining it in Haiti and guiding others to Him.
While this was an awesome reminder of my passion for my World Race, God also reminded me of my task today at my last fundraiser in Florida tonight at Orange Leaf frozen yogurt. So my prayer for tonight is that I would be as in Psalm 40:10 “I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.”
I’m praying big prayers of God’s provision also because it’s my last shot of staying on the September route (as far as I can see of course). I know that He will provide for when He wants me to go because He already has!!
Thank you to everyone who has supported me with prayers and finances so far! I am very appreciative of your faithfulness to God even when times are tough.
If you're in N tonight please stop by Orange Leaf frozen yogurt in Venetian Village in Naples tonight anytime from 5-11 pm! If you aren’t in Florida and would still like to support me, please pray for tonight and/or donate at the support me link on my blog.
