“This I know, that god is for me”…Psalm 56:9(b)
It will always amaze me how God uses His Word and others to send a message that gently and intimately touches our hearts. I’ve encountered many moments like this, but one recently has stirred me so deeply. It began one Sunday in pre-service prayer. Lindsay was praying and speaking over parts of Psalm 56. She repeatedly said, “THIS I KNOW….” louder and louder, owning and declaring it and the following promises. I felt Holy Spirit speak it into me as she spoke, telling me to own, declare, know, and believe it. The feeling didn’t end in pre-service prayer; it followed me home. At some point in the afternoon, I fell asleep. As I woke, the first thing I heard was ‘THIS I KNOW”. I opened up my bible and read verses 10-13 in various versions. I wanted to capture everything I could. I knew God was speaking, and I wanted to hear.
As I read verse 10: “In God whose word I praise, in the lord, whose word I praise,” I thought of my love for God’s Word. I thank Him daily for loving us so much that He gave His Word so we could hear Him and know Him more deeply, so we don’t stray, and we know how we should live. His Word is FULL of His promises, and it’s sweeter than honey and more valuable than gold, silver, or fine jewels. It is our daily bread, food for our souls.
Then I read verse 11: “In God I trust, I shall not be afraid. what can man do to me.” My thoughts went to those who don’t know God, who walk in fear in this world. I thought of those who say, “Well, you can trust God, but…”. I thought of the times I’ve said …” but, there is no but…you trust God, or you don’t.” It’s difficult sometimes to say those words, especially to family, so I really need to stare right in the face of God’s promise… “WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME.”
Verse 12 says, “I must perform my vows to you o God; I will render thank offerings to you.” This verse reminded me of the vow I made when I was baptized on August 30th, 2015. I asked the Lord for a scripture for the occasion, and I was led to Psalm 116:1,2,12,13 and especially verse 14, which says, “I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people.” I realize how much I love and desire to stay true to Him.
Then my heart filled with tearful gratitude as I read Psalm 56:13: You have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.” I found myself on my knees, repenting, with a heart of thanksgiving and pouring out my love for Him. His love does lead us to repentance.
Every time I spoke and meditated on each verse, I prayed after and said with conviction as Lindsay did in prayer time…” THIS I KNOW…GOD IS FOR ME.”
When all was said and done, I heard Holy Spirit speak gently, telling me to take this deeper, not just in my heart and head, but in the deep recesses where I have heard His voice. That place is so deep in my soul that I don’t even know where it is. But I understood what He meant because I’ve heard Him there.
I sent Lindsay an email telling her of my experience. I was excited to hear she had a similar experience of hearing “THIS I KNOW…” going through her head on Sunday. She sent me a link to a sermon on Psalm 56 by Dave Witt (Christian Fellowship).
He quoted from D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Spiritual Depression), “Faith is a refusal to panic.” He also reminds us not to let our fears control us and that avoiding fear is not a faithful life. We can’t avoid what comes up against us, and if we really believe God is for us, we can boldly say, “THIS I KNOW.” We stand firm no matter what and take up our Shield of Faith.
Pastor Dave also spoke of God’s unwavering, pure, deep and faithful love for us, which pulled me even closer to God. He meshed Psalm 56:8 with Psalm 139:16 and Isaiah 49:15.
“You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?”….” Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in Your book were written every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”….” can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.”
Then I read Isaiah 49:16: “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before me.”
Our loving, faithful God keeps a bottle for all our tears, and He catches each one. God keeps a journal of our lives, and He has since the beginning of time. Our God will never forget us amid our trials and struggles, and He loves us so much we are constantly in His sight. He carries us in the palm of His mighty hand.
God speaks volumes of His love and devotion to His most cherished possession…His children. And because we know this, we can own, declare each of His promises and boldly say….” THIS I KNOW….”
Abba, I pray Your love for us goes so deep into our being that we never doubt Your love, we never question You watching out for us, and we never walk in fear, for You, God, are always for us. THIS WE KNOW, in Jesus’ name…. Amen.
