“He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of the many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay. He brought me forth into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me” (KJV, Ps. 18:16-19).
“He sent from above”
Father, You are indeed my ever-present help in time of need. You have looked over me and have guided me through many challenges. You have forgiven me of sin and have placed Your love upon me. Thank You for Your gracious approach to our relationship.
I am reminded of Christ when I look upon Psalm 18:16-19. You sent Jesus to me as my Redeemer and Savior. You sent Him to the earth, for I could never ascend into heaven so as to bring You down.
Jesus, You took on flesh and gave up Your glory in heaven so that I could be glorified with You in heaven.
You are matchless in all Your ways, and Your thoughts exceed my thoughts. I would never have done what You did. However, You are far above me, and Your humility is beyond my comprehension
“he took me”
Jesus, You came to the earth and took me as Your own. I was straying like a lost sheep. I was a rebel against Your cause. But You took me and will not let me go. You bought me with a price. The price was Your blood. You won me with Your love. Your love was Your sacrificial death for me.
I pray that You will help me to stay by Your side. Teach me to draw near to You each day and never let You go. I am encouraged that You will not let me go, but I pray that You will not need to pull me back and that I will want to stay. May I never leave You or forsake You, knowing that You will never leave or forsake me.
“he drew me out of the many waters”
You have been my Helper, and for that, I am thankful. I was sinking deep in sin and was without hope of saving myself. I needed to be rescued. I needed to be lifted out. Then You came to me and extended Your hand. You gave me Your hand as You did Peter and lifted me from the waters of sin.
You have set my feet upon solid ground. I pray that You would teach me to walk upon the solid ground You have set me upon. You have shown me your Word and have told me that in it, I can find the path that leads to life. Open my eyes and heart that I might see. Use Your Word to shine a light upon my path.
“He delivered me from my strong enemy”
Jesus, I was overwhelmed by my strong enemy. The words of Paul were a reality in my life. He has said, “And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (2 Tim. 2:26).
I was taken captive by the enemy to do his will. However, You came and delivered me, and for that, I am grateful.
You have worked a marvelous deliverance, but I often forget the deliverance You have achieved. I can quickly fall back into doubt and find that the same sins overwhelm me.
But, Jesus, You have said, “…If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32). Help me to continue in Your truth, and may Your truth set me free.
“and from them which hated me”
Father, I am encouraged by Your love for me this day. If You hated me, You would have allowed me to remain the captive of those who hated me. Instead, You loved me and saw fit to deliver me from my oppressors. I am no longer a slave to sin, the enemy, and my flesh. I am one with Christ Jesus, and He never ceases to pray for me.
I know the enemy despises me and seeks my ruin. I am aware of his ways and tactics in Your Word. While he is an invisible enemy, I know the simple instruction You gave me to overcome him.
I must humble myself, submit to You, and resist him. Work in my heart so I would desire to submit to Your Word. Sometimes I want to walk contrary to Your Word but help me never to forget that if I do, I am on the path of the enemy and destruction.
“for they were too strong for me”
While the enemy is too strong for me, he is not too strong for You, Jesus. You have said, “…Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:34-36).
Jesus, You have set me free; therefore, I am free.
You have loosed my bonds and allowed me to walk in newness of life. I could never have overcome the enemy. However, in love, You came and rescued me.
“They prevented me in the day of my calamity”
The enemy sought to steal, kill, and destroy. He confronted me and desired to sift me as wheat. I am reminded of Peter and his day of calamity.
Jesus, You assisted him tremendously and told him, “…Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Lu. 22:31-32).
Jesus, I thank You for Your prayers for me. Please would you continue to intercede for me and protect me from the wiles of the enemy?
“but the Lord was my stay”
Despite the enemy’s attempts, Jesus, You are my stay. You are my support and will never cease to run to my aid. Thank you for being all I need. Sometimes I can forget that You are sufficient to meet all my problems. You are the Savior, but sometimes I believe Your saving work is done.
I can get too fixated on forgiveness and forget that You are the Savior in all things. You have come to save me from the consequences of sin. Thus, Your role as Savior affects many areas of my life.
Teach me not to trust in myself and be my own Messiah. I will fail every time I seek to acquire Your position. You have told me to work out my salvation but it is God Who works in me to will and to do.
“He brought me forth into a large place”
You have always desired for me to live an abundant Christian life. Teach me to look upon Your activity in my life and be thankful for it. Your grace is evident, as is Your mercy. Your love abounds, and there is fullness of joy when I am in Your presence.
Material wealth can be a blessing. However, there is a blessing that far exceeds the blessing of material wealth.
You told the Israelites what true blessing meant. You said, “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace” (Num. 6:24-26).
So may You also bring me out into the broad place of Your blessing.
“he delivered me, because he delighted in me”
I am amazed that You would delight in me. I still fall short of Your glory and am not who You called me to be. But Your pity towards me and never-ceasing compassion are glorious.
You are deserving of praise, honor, and glory. You are my strong tower, shield, and fortress. You are the Captain of my salvation, and it is to You that I look. In Jesus’ name, Amen.