I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord. Psalm 40:1-3 (NLT)
Dear heavenly Father, your beauty is without equal and your love is better than life; your faithfulness is without question and your grace is without limits. We praise, bless, and adore you. No one knows our messes or gives new mercies like you.
This Psalm moves us to rejoice in your “pit-rescuing goodness” today. Father, I don’t know what “pit of despair” King David was writing about in this Psalm, but I can name a great number of “pits” from which you have been faithful to rescue us, and others for which we now trust you for rescue.
We worship you for plucking us out of the pit of graceless religion and gospel-less spirituality. Father thanks for opening the eyes of our hearts to see the greatness of our need that we might receive your über-great provision for us in Christ. There is no life apart from Jesus and no hope without the gospel of your grace. That we are now “in Christ” means we will one Day be out of every conceivable pit. Hallelujah!
Father, we trust you to rescue us from pits we’ve been pushed into, those we’ve innocently fallen into, and those we’ve actually jumped into. Continue to rescue us from the pits of self-pity and vain-regrets. You’ve forgiven our past completely, and we now live in your permanent delight-full favor. It’s foolish to continue to beat ourselves up with “if-only’s,” “how come’s?” and “why not’s?” Your name is Redeemer, not Re-doer.
Father, also rescue us from the pits of unforgiveness and bitterness—perhaps the most daily and deadly of all pits. None of us can afford to become more angry, resentful, and vengeful, and eventually more alone.
Father, rescue us from the pits of hopelessness and melancholy. A vacant cross, an empty tomb, and an occupied heavenly throne are all the evidence we need that you can be trusted—no matter our story, no matter the issues, no matter the pain. From these, and every other “pit”, we wait upon you for rescue, Lord. So very Amen we Pray, in Jesus’ bold and beautiful name.