Thought for June 28, 2024

•  1762: Catherine the Great seizes power in Russia
• 1846: Saxophone patented by Adolfe Sax
• 1894: Labor Day established as holiday for federal employees
• 1914: Archduke Ferdinand assassinated
• 1919: Treaty of Versailles signed ending WWI
• 1926: DMG and Benz & Cie merge to form Mercedes Benz
• 1965: LBJ authorizes US ground combat troops in Vietnam
• 1976: First woman admitted to the Air Force Academy
• 2020: Global Covid deaths pass 500,000
• Born: Henry VIII, Peter Paul Ruebens, John Wesley, Richard Rogers [Rogers & Hammerstein], Mel Brooks, Gilda Radner, Kathy Bates, John Elway, John Cusack, Elon Musk, Kellie Pickler, 
• Died: James Madison, Rod Serling, Pat Summit

Thought:

Reading Psalm 142 today and focused on the last verse, 142:7. David tells us that he went to the Lord with his troubles, his complaints [142:2]. He felt trapped and imprisoned [142:3-4]. He felt he was being persecuted and overwhelmed by a more powerful enemy. [142:5-6] Then in verse 7, he says, "Bring my soul out of prison." Have you ever been there?

Have you ever thought that the situation or the circumstances had you trapped, surrounded, no way out? Or maybe you felt like the enemy had you chained, controlled. David must have felt this way when pursued by Saul and his men. And he may have felt that way when confronted by Nathan. Peter and Paul were both chained in prisons, overwhelmed by the Roman opposition and the Jewish authorities. For us, the prison may be different:

• Maybe the chains are habits I cannot seem to break or maybe habits I cannot seem to develop. I try, I seem to make progress, then I relapse.
• Maybe the chains are a past experience that still causes me pain. Someone let me donw, someone rejected me, someone breached a confidence, someone used me. And I just can't seem to get past the hurt.
• Maybe the chains are fears about the present or the future. I am anxious about what might happen to me or to those I love. Will my children and grandchildren be able to live and prosper.
• Maybe my chains are a sin that I cannot put down or overcome in my strength. 
• Or the chain could be a relationship that I know is not good for me, but I cannot seem to get past it or leave it. 
• For me it might be a bad attitude about a person or situation. My joy and peace are drained by my bad attitude. 

Look at what David did when he felt chained and in prison:

• Took the problem to the Lord.
• Understood that He cares for my soul when no one else does.
• Ran to the refuge that is Jesus.
• Sought the strength of the Lord when his strength was too small and too weak.
• Knew that the Lord would abundantly bless him.

Brings to mine the song by Chris Tomlin, Amazing Grace [My Chains are Gone]. "My chains are gone, I've been set free. My God, my Savior has ransomed me. And like a flood His mercy reigns; unending love, amazing grace." For Paul in prison, God sent an earthquake and broke the chains, opened the doors. Today, the Lord is ready to set us free, to break the chains, to rescue us. Amazing grace. 

Blessings

Larry