LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. 2 Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony. 3 My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long? 4 Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. 5 No one remembers you when he is dead. Who praises you from the grave? 6 I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. 7 My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes. 8 Away from me, all you who do evil, for the LORD has heard my weeping. 9 The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer. 10 All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed; they will turn back in sudden disgrace.

This Psalm begins with a cry from a heart filled with pain and agony to God for his mercy. In this cry is a total dependence on God and on his goodness and mercy. A s the Psalm progresses it turns to thanksgiving because God as answered his prayer or perhaps because in his faith he anticipates the answer before it arrives.

In Philippians 4:4-7 Paul says: Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Someone has suggested that perhaps Paul is telling us to turn everything over to God in prayer and be thankful as we do so because we know that God is going to answer our prayers according to his will – which will always be what is best for us. It is no wonder that Paul ends by telling us that we will have the peace of God to guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.

What a wonderful Lord, who knows our every need and is willing to provide it for us. So often we only think in terms of material things but having the peace of God in our hearts goes far beyond 0the joy of things. With this peace we can go thru the most difficult situations in complete assurance that God is going to be there with us and for us. But since he made me and the universe, how could I doubt that he can know what is best for me and provide it?

O Lord, please strengthen my faith so that I can see you in my daily walk. Help me to hear your voice of comfort and feel your loving arms lift me up and hold me securely. Fill me with your Spirit that I may follow your will, share your love and know your peace. I pray in Jesus name.

May God bless each of us as we live for him in committed faith.