Read chapter in full: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Psalms+031

Psalm 31 (ESV)

¹⁴ But I trust in you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
¹⁵ My times are in your hand;
rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!
¹⁶ Make your face shine on your servant;
save me in your steadfast love!
¹⁷ O Lord, let me not be put to shame,
for I call upon you;
let the wicked be put to shame;
let them go silently to Sheol.
¹⁸ Let the lying lips be mute,
which speak insolently against the righteous
in pride and contempt.

¹⁹ Oh, how abundant is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of the children of mankind!
²⁰ In the cover of your presence you hide them
from the plots of men;
you store them in your shelter
from the strife of tongues.

REFLECTION:

1. The first half of the psalm (vv1-13) described David being pursued by armies led by King Saul. At times, his situation seemed hopeless, and he was gripped by despair. Yet David found grace to say, “I trust in you” (v14) and “my times are in your hands” (v15).
2. This is perhaps the greatest challenge we face when hard-pressed. We want relief now. We don’t want to wait. Yet our times, as well as we ourselves, are in God’s hands.  Until God acts, we must find grace to wait, holding tight to God as our refuge.
3. God is good and we can be sure that He has goodness stored up for us who fear Him. For now, we are safe.  In the future, we will be doubly blessed.
4. How would you make this statement, “My times are in your hands” (v15), a reality in your life? What does it actually mean to you when faced with troubles and difficulties?

PRAYER:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.

HYMN:

Make Your Face Shine Upon Your Servant – www.youtube.com/watch?v=ch-YMog_OyY