In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth. Psalms 119:88
Note the basis of the petition. What does he appeal to – in order to “move” God to answer his request? How does this display faith in prayer? Why do you think he asks for “life”? Why is a grace provision from God always essential before we can obey him on any level?
Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD! Psalms 25:6-7
“Remember” and “Remember not”. Here is an excellent two-point request pattern for prayer. Note what the Psalmist asks God to remember and “forget” in verses 6-7. Now think of the person you like the least (hint—the one you find yourself critiquing the most). What would change if you remembered them according to God’s steadfast love and goodness instead of their sins?
It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night. Psalms 92:1-2
Goodness is in part expressed by thankfulness—“it is good to give thanks to the Lord”. This puts us in memory of verses like Col 2:7 & Col 3:17. Gratitude is presented as the polar opposite of an impure mindset in Ephesians 5:4
Note the rhythm of prayer that regulates the grateful spirit. We find two faith declarations here: a declaration of anticipation in the morning & a declaration flowing from reflection in the evening. Two bookends to the day, both punctuated by gratitude.
We start the day with a faith-filled anticipation of meeting God’s steadfast love for “his mercies are new every morning” (Lam 3:23). This is gratitude for what is to come. Even if the day contains trials or unexpected sadness, we can face the day with the unwavering confidence that “nothing in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:39)
Then, at day’s end, we reflect on the happenings of the day and declare God’s faithfulness. We express gratitude for his never-changing faithfulness: “Great is your faithfulness!”
Would you be willing to put yourself in this rhythm of prayer? Would you be willing to try it for one week?
Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD. Psalms 107:43
The wise govern their thought life. Years ago, in college, I studied Hydraulics and Pneumatics. Pneumatics is the use of pressurized air to accomplish tasks too difficult for a person to handle alone. Thoughts are like air. Air can be undirected blowing, this way and that, or it can be like pneumatic air—focused and put to good use. Spiritually speaking, our thoughts are most useful, productive, and wise when they are contemplating God. This past month has been dedicated to pondering and “considering the steadfast love of the Lord”. What truths about this theme are lingering in your mind? Has there been any insight discovered that has caused new faith to rise up in your heart? How are you expressing that faith to your heavenly Father?
Who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalms 103:4-5
Most of us are aware that we are saved from destruction. Wonderful as that is, it can remain very impersonal. The fireman may rescue someone from the fire, but have no relationship with the rescued one afterward. Not so with God. Think of a coronation. God is the one placing the crown on your head. And what exactly is that crown? It is all that he is in himself—a giving of HIMSELF to you. According to verse 5, what is the result of this extravagant gift?
When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up. Psalms 94:18
Another way God’s steadfast love impacts our life! Here is a clear example of “being transformed by the renewing of our mind” (Romans 12:2)
How does God’s steadfast love “hold us up” when we are aware we are slipping in our thoughts?
Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! Psalms 115:1
What can the creature give to God? “nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything” (Acts 17:25)
God, then, does not need glory given. His glory is undiminished whether we acknowledge it or not. Who, then, is giving the glory in this verse? Think carefully. There is a speaker, the one spoken to, and the request. It does not say “to your name be glory” which would be a word of praise. It is instead a request. Think how grand God’s steadfast love is, if it brings honor and praise from the heights of heaven itself!
For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men. Lamentations 3:31-33
In these verses we find two truths that sustain us in the middle of deep suffering. First, we need to know that our suffering is not random and meaningless. Verse 32 tells us that God sometimes “causes grief”. It comes by design.
But that truth alone is not enough to comfort. What if the God who designs these things for us is cold and cruel? What if we are only small pawns on His cosmic chessboard that are easily disposed of? We need to know not only God’s awesome sovereignty but also of his infinite goodness and love. Amazingly, verse 33 says, “God does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men”.
Put the two verses together and we are faced with an incredible reality about God. He causes grief but not willingly. He wills in one way what he doesn’t will on another.
According to verse 32, what is the core of God’s heart toward us in the midst of suffering? Remember that “compassion” is a feeling word. Why is this truth so comforting to know? What conception about God, common in suffering, does this adjust and answer?
Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:18-19
Have you ever thought about what brings delight to God’s heart? How is steadfast love defined in this verse? Does it not leave us in awe exclaiming, “Who is a God like you!”. Because God delights in steadfast love he devised a way to “cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (vs 19). He did this by “treading our iniquities underfoot” even as His own Son was tread underfoot for a time on that cruel cross.
This I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:21-23
These verses are written in the middle of darkness and sorrow (Lamentations 3:18). Yet even while “hope has perished’, the writer says, “But this I call to mind and therefore have hope”. Hope when hope is gone! What is it that injects such hope into a hopeless situation? “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do if with his love he befriend thee”.
