Tuesday Reflection – May 04, 2021 God Hears and Responds to Us.

Tuesday Reflection – May 04, 2021God Hears and Responds to Us.  
In today’s Watchword, David praises God for responding to his call and in the process, strengthening his soul.  On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul. Psalm 138: 3. The soul is described as that God part of the human being. Adam became a living soul after God breathed his breath (His Spirit) into him. As living breathing beings then, we are living souls in need of the support and strengthening of the one who is the keeper of our souls. Psalm 121 reminds us ‘the Lord will protect you from all evil, he will keep your soul.’ 
This is one of the many Psalms in which David praises God for coming to his rescue. He called out and God heard.  David looked back with thankfulness. On the day I called, you answered. David recognized that he was in the realm of the survivor because of God’s mercy, because of God’s grace, because God heard him when he called. Today, every single person hearing my voice can, and should, look back with thanksgiving for we are here today, we too are survivors, because of God. In Ps 32: 7 he declared, You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.  
That was not all friends. When God moves on our behalf it causes our faith to grow and this increased faith leads to increased confidence in God’s ability. Thus we hear David in Psalm 23: 4, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. David looked up with confidence. Confidence in the one who restores our souls, who strengthens our souls. This means that in spite of our brokenness, in spite of the torment we face, in spite of at times losing ourselves to the world, God will rescue us when we call for help. The confidence that David has is not in his perfection, but rather despite His imperfections. God will always be there for him, despite his limitations, God will always surround him with His presence, God will rescue him when he calls. We learn from David that when God’s children call upon Him in faith, God hears and responds. This is the confidence reflected in Psalm 27: 3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. We can always look to God in confidence knowing that nothing that comes at us will be too much for God to take us through. 
It is precisely because of this thankfulness and confidence that David can now focus on what is ahead. David looks forward with hope. He is thankful for the experiences of the past. He knows that God will hear his cry for help. Knowing that God’s mercies endure forever gave David hope. Thus, in Psalm 118: 5 – 6 he declares, I called on the Lord in distress; The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? Indeed, if God is on our side, what can earthly systems do to us? Our confidence, our hope is in the Lord and that gives us the strength to face anything. The doctrinal text from Rom 10: 12, reminds us: The same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. May your soul find strength through thanksgiving, through confidence and through hope as God moves on your behalf. Amen.
Bevon White