I'm Proud to Praise God (A Psalm under duress)

Dear Friends-

I pray that today's message becomes a tool for you when things get really difficult in life.

Today's scripture is a psalm that David sang to God when he was captured by the Philistines.

Your situation may not be as dramatic as this but some of us are suffering through imprisonment of a bad marriage, difficult finances, or jobs we hate.

Let these scriptures bring you some hope for brighter days and a fresh perspective. Feeling trapped is actually worse than being trapped and, if you can imagine better days ahead, you can begin feeling motivated enough to plan your escape.

Praise God and a change will come!

In the meantime, take care and "feel blessed"!

K.

Psalm 56 (The Message Bible)

^{1 -4} Take my side, God—I'm getting kicked around, stomped on every day.
Not a day goes by
but somebody beats me up;
They make it their duty
to beat me up.
When I get really afraid
I come to you in trust.
I'm proud to praise God;
fearless now, I trust in God.
What can mere mortals do?

^{5 -6} They don't let up—
they smear my reputation
and huddle to plot my collapse.
They gang up,
sneak together through the alleys
To take me by surprise,
wait their chance to get me.

⁷ Pay them back in evil!
Get angry, God!
Down with these people!

⁸ You've kept track of my every toss and turn
through the sleepless nights,
Each tear entered in your ledger,
each ache written in your book.

⁹ If my enemies run away,
turn tail when I yell at them,
Then I'll know
that God is on my side.

^{10 -11} I'm proud to praise God,
proud to praise God.
Fearless now, I trust in God;
what can mere mortals do to me?

^{12 -13} God, you did everything you promised,
and I'm thanking you with all my heart.
You pulled me from the brink of death,
my feet from the cliff-edge of doom.
Now I stroll at leisure with God
in the sunlit fields of life.