"I Will Call Upon The Lord" -Reposted

This was originally posted on 10/26/2014, just 5 months after the passing of our precious son. Two years later, we are still learning to call upon the Lord during times of distress and heartache...and He has never let us down.  This message encouraged my own heart even as I wrote it at that time. I pray there may be someone (or many) who will be blessed and encouraged by this same message yet today.

Original Post from 10/26/2014:

"I will love You, O Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

My God, my strength, in Whom I will trust;

My shield and the horn of my salvation,

my stronghold.

I will call upon the Lord,

Who is worthy to be praised;

So shall I be saved from my enemies."

Psalm 18: 1-3

"The Lord Lives!

Blessed be my Rock!

Let the God of my salvation be exalted."

Psalm 18:46

Mt. Washington, NH, picture taken October, 2013

Those of you who are familiar with scripture choruses may recognize one in the verses above.  I love it when I start reading from God's Word, and the words of the chosen passage jump out at me and cause me to start singing! Such was the case this morning as I read these powerful verses from Psalm 18.   Sing along with me if you know this little song:

"The Lord liveth,

and blessed be my Rock!

Let the God of my salvation be exalted!

The Lord liveth,

and blessed be my Rock!

And may the God of my salvation be exalted!

I will call upon the Lord,

Who is worthy to be praised...

So shall I be saved from my enemies;

I will call upon the Lord!"

What I really loved about reading these verses today were the several references to the word "Strength".   This past year I chose for my "One Word" for 2014 the word Strengthen.  Click HERE for more about that.   As we are drawing closer to the end of the year, I've been thinking about all the ways that God has indeed "strengthened" me throughout these months. It hasn't been easy.  The exercises (click on link) have been excruciating in most cases. I had no idea just how much I was going to have to endure to grow in strength.   (Click on the links for previous stories that will give you the background for this story).   But I have never been alone in that quest. 

The first few verses printed at the beginning of this post will tell you WHO has been with me, 

and WHO has actually been my strength, 

my Rock, my Fortress, my Deliverer...

Yes, it has been my GOD, My Saviour,

who has been my Strength...and in HIM I will trust. 

He has been my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!

So, since I've endured so much this past year, am I now some amazing strong woman, full of wonderful powers and strength beyond belief?  Well, no, I'd hardly say that.  It seems like when we get through one "feat of strengthening", it is oftentimes the building block upon which new challenges will be sent our way. We are never intended in this life to rest upon our laurels of great accomplishments of strength. We are strengthened for a purpose. It could be that God wants us to use our experiences to help others when they face the calamities and heartaches of their lives. It may be that we are strengthened so that we can learn just how dependent upon God we really are... so that we will know beyond a shadow of doubt exactly WHO it was who lifted us up when we were so weak we could not stand on our own.

"In my distress I called upon the Lord,

and cried out to my God;

He heard my voice from His temple,

And my cry came before Him,

even to His ears."

Psalm 18:6

My dear friend, I don't know what challenges you are currently facing, or will face in the upcoming months.  But I do know One Who stands ready to be your "strength...your rock, your fortress and deliverer".  If you do not already know this wonderful God and Savior, I pray that you will take the time to get to know Him now, while things are good...don't wait until the hard times come to call out to Him in your distress...seek His face now...call upon the Lord "Who is worthy to be praised..." and I can assure you He will answer you. He wants to be there for you in the good times as well as the difficult days.  Then you will be able to sing this little song along with me:

"The Lord liveth,

and blessed be my Rock!

Let the God of my salvation be exalted!

The Lord liveth,

and blessed be my Rock!

And may the God of my salvation be exalted!

I will call upon the Lord,

Who is worthy to be praised...

So shall I be saved from my enemies;

I will call upon the Lord!"

Where Do I Go? Who Do I Run To?

Someone asked me the other day who I had to lean on when going through difficult trials. There was and is only one answer:

"I will love You, O Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my ROCK and my FORTRESS and my DELIVERER;

My GOD, my STRENGTH, in Whom I will trust;

My SHIELD and the HORN OF MY SALVATION, my STRONGHOLD.

I will call upon the Lord,

Who is worthy to be praised;

So shall I be saved from my enemies.

The pangs of death surrounded me,

and the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.

The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;

The snares of death confronted me.

In my distress I called upon the Lord,

and cried out to my God;

He heard my voice from His temple,

and my cry came before Him,

even to His ears."

Psalms 18:1-6

"He sent from above, He took me;

He drew me out of many waters.

He delivered me from my strong enemy,

from those who hated me,

for they were too strong for me.

They confronted me in the day of my calamity,

but the LORD was my SUPPORT.

He also brought be out into a broad place;

He DELIVERED me,

because HE DELIGHTED IN ME!"

Psalm 18:16-19

"For who is God, except the Lord?

And who is a rock, except our God?

Is is GOD who arms me with strength,

and makes my way perfect.

He makes my feet like the feet of deer,

and sets me on my high places."

Psalm 18:31-33

"The Lord lives!!

Blessed be my ROCK!

Let the God of my salvation be exalted."

Psalm 18:46

AND I CRIED OUT "HALLELUJAH!!"

It is God and no other Who has saved me!

It is God and no other Who has rescued me!

There is NO GOD like JEHOVAH!!!

My dear friend...Let me tell you from personal experience...Jesus is the Rock that you can cling to when all the world has turned against you.  He is the ONLY Savior Who will rescue you from sinking sand and the overwhelming floods of life.  There is no other who can save you. There is no other who can restore you. There is no other who can carry you when you cannot take one. more. step.  

Do you know this Jesus?  Have you learned to call upon His Name? That's all you need to know.

He is all you need to know.  Call upon HIS MIGHTY NAME, and your cry will come before 

God Almighty..."even to His ears!" (see verse 6 above)

I don't think there is anything else I need to add to this.  God's Word is true. He does not lie.

If you are lost and feeling all alone, cry out to the Rock of YOUR Salvation! 

He will not turn you away. 

"Therefore I will give thanks to YOU, O Lord, among the Gentiles,

and sing praises to YOUR NAME!"

Psalm 18:49