Thank You God for remembering our needs and for giving us hope in our afflictions.

Today’s Scripture: Psalm 9:18, NIV- “But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.”

I have found Psalm 19:7 to be true. “The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” (NIV) Not only is God’s law perfect but it is also perfect in timing. My soul was refreshed this morning by David’s words in Psalm 9:18. I am thankful that God never forgets the needy and He gives us hope.

Whenever I see “but” to begin a scripture I read backwards to get an understanding of what led to this truth. In the King James Version of Psalm 9:16 I read the word “Higgaion” which I did not recall noting before. At Biblestudytools.com this word indicates an interlude, a meditation, or an imagination.

Higgaion in Psalm 9:16 is followed by “Selah” which is interpreted as a silence or pause. David is making it doubly clear that we need to stop and pause our minds to remember who God is and what His laws promise. We must strain to look beyond our needs and afflictions towards God.

David mentions in Psalm 9:15 that we can fall into pits that we have dug ourselves. David called out to God so he could praise Him and rejoice publicly that He had saved Him. This is my effort to praise God and share my joy publicly that God has saved me from the pits, many of which, I had created myself.

My prayer is that others too will be lifted from the gates of death as I have been and where David cried out from in Psalm 9:13. I am thankful that God did not ignore my cries, and I am confident He will not ignore the cries from any who are humbled by their sufferings.

I am thankful for the promise of Psalm 9:10 that the LORD does not abandon anyone who seeks Him and who puts their trust in Him. I have found that Psalm 9:9 is true, “The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.” (KJV)

Our troubles can seem overwhelming now, but we must remember that the LORD reigns forever. In the immediate, we can be blinded. Even if we pause for prayer, we may not know what to say or struggle to see beyond our emotions. However, I have experienced that regardless of how I am feeling, I can pause and do as David did in Psalm 9:2, “I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.” (NKJV)

David shows us the way out of our darkness in Psalm 9:1, if we will only stop long enough to say, “I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.” (NKJV) Many of us had to reach our lowest points before we would turn to the LORD. Psalm 9:20 stated, “Put them in fear, LORD; Let the nations know that they are merely human. Selah”

I am thankful that in our humanness we can still pause and praise God for who He is and cry out for wisdom in our times of need. We can seek God’s wisdom in our afflictions, and we can be thankful for the promise of Proverbs 8:17 “I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me.”

Pause today and remember that there is a God who loves us, knows our needs, and gives us hope.

Today’s Prayer: LORD, thank You for remembering our needs and for giving us hope. I am pausing now to remember You and praise who You are. I love You LORD and Your wisdom that guides us in our times of need. Help us to diligently seek You in the knowledge that we will find You. Help us to tell others of Your salvation. Amen.