HELPS EXPECTATION PS. 71:1-4

WHAT WE LACK V.1-4

WE LACK CONFIDENCE V.1

DIRECT US IN TRUST

In You, O Lord,

do we put our trust:

O Lord, we run into Your arms;

It may appear that we’re into

the last lap in our race

when in our senior season.

We feel on the skids

of staggering strides

as we wobble and wither.

The only real calming hope

is to feel God’s hands

on our helm.

Sure there’s a tendency

to droop as troubles and

the grind of grief appear

to be chasing us to the grave.

So we run into the arms of Jesus.

We need His supportive help

when stuff is going haywire.

Jesus Christ is our Savior

and our encouragement

beyond words.

DELIVER US FROM TURMOIL

let us never be put to confusion.

don’t let us be discouraged.

Save us and rescue us

we’re in this low place,

Confidence builders are so few

and far between,

but You Lord want trust

no matter what the disorder

no matter what the uncertainty

of our situations.

No matter how hot it gets

We let You control

our steering wheel.

“Glorify our Lord in the fires”

Isa. 24:15

WE LACK CHOICE V.2-3

FREEDOM TO DO WHAT’S RIGHT

Deliver us in Your righteousness,

(for you do what is right.)

“We can rests everything

on Your character O God

and on Your compassion Father

Phillips writes

“You O God

are totally incapable

of letting us down.

We invest our faith

We commit our trust

in our living God

and we will find that,

when all else fails,

God is still in business,

still mighty to save”

FLIGHT FROM RUIN

HIS PATH OF ESCAPE

and cause us to escape:

HIS PERCEPTIVE EAR

incline Your ear to us,

(Put your ear close to our heart)

please hear every beat

HIS PLANNED EXIT

and save us.

You hear the murmurs

We can’t put into words

David Livingstone was away

up in the swamplands

around Chitambo’s village,

He was alone

except for a few local natives.

He had come to the end

of his tether.

His feet were a mass of ulcers,

His tough physique was sapped

to the point of utter exhaustion.

He was bleeding inside.

The last distinct entry

in his diary reads tersely:

“Knocked down quite!”

A drizzly rain was falling

They built a rough shelter

into which he could creep.

He was worn-out

An old missionary.

They fell asleep.

As dawn appeared

at last over the eastern horizon.

One of the men peered

into the lean-to hut.

He saw David Livingston,

the valiant old warrior

of the cross

not in bed but on his knees

against the bed.

Calling the other two,

the three of them crept

into the shelter.

Livingstone was dead—

He was alone,

with the Africans he loved.

Had God let him down?

No!

Into that lonely hut He had come,

He who had promised

never to leave nor forsake.

Beside that camp cot

He had kneeled,

beside the wasted form

of His missionary friend.

Around that wasted form

had gone those mighty,

everlasting arms.

God had whispered to his ears;

“Now then, David,

you’re coming home with Me.”

The character and compassion

of God had been tried

to the uttermost

and found to be true—

true to the very last moment

of time,

to the very last breath of life!

FORTRESS FROM FAILURE V.3

A WEAK PERSON

IN A STRONG PLACE

Be my strong habitation,

Be my mountain fortress

A WILLING POSITION

IN A STABLE PALACE

Whereunto we

may continually resort:

Our crag of safety

A WISE PRINCIPLE

AS A STRATEGIC PORTAL

You have given commandment

to save us;

Command our deliverance

A WELCOME PROTECTION

IN A SOLID POSITION

for You are our rock

and our fortress.

for You are our Mighty Rescuer

WE LACK CONSCIOUSNESS V.4

DELIVERANCE

Deliver us, O our God,

O God, save us from

this recurring depression

OUT OF DECEPTION

out of the hand of the wicked,

We are so tired of being

in the line of fire

OUT OF DEVIANCE

out of the hand of the unrighteous

and cruel individual .

Please shoulder our problems

We want to help others

as if our problems aren’t enough!

When we’re older

and our health is fragile

we desperately want

to feel secure.

Our natural defenses

against life’s injuries are gone.

We easily fall.

We can’t pull our weight

like we did in past employment.

We’re far from in demand

in the work place.

We even go unnoticed

at our local Church

and Bible study groups.

No one is calling

No one is checking in on us.

Our health is failing;

Our old friends are dying;

our minds and their minds

are not as sharp as they were;

our income is greatly reduced;

often we feel defenseless

and vulnerable.

We need God.

How great to read

“He has given commandment

to save us!”

God is our strong place,

God is our stable palace,

God is our strategic portal

God is our only solid position.

When we waver

in our consciousness.

We need God’s deliverance

from deception and deviance

Please clear our fog of fading