I love the LORD, because he has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.
Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
Then I called on the name of the LORD:
“O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!”
Psalms 116:1 — 4
My take: Yes! Yes, I am in accord with the psalmist here, thank God and Pastor Ken Trautman. On three days back in September of 1995 my life as I knew fell apart. On Wednesday I my car blew a head gasket, then Thursday I was fired and Friday my wife was entertaining a stranger and walked out our recent marriage. I was floored. Yet, I borrowed a car and found a temporary job and ran a sales appointment Saturday morning. It was a divine appointment unbeknownst to me. God had broken my pride and used a pastor to expose His mighty sharp Word to my soul. That was the morning I accepted Christ, nearly 21 years ago. So I can and did relate to, “O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!” and He did exactly that!
Though I am far from perfect and prone to sin all too much, I am different. There is a new man inside me and I shall call upon the LORD as long as I live.
I hope you think and feel the same way. Can I get an amen?
My prayer: God, You are truly the difference maker and sustainer. Thank You for being there and reaching out to me on September 9, 1995. You took a imperfect mess and are making it into a perfect mess. Love You and Yours truly! Kirk.
P.S. Though I may have been a half-in semi cultural Christian for my first 28 years, I has no clue about what it meant to have a relationship with the living God until I was born again on 9/9/95 (my spiritual birthday – see John 3:1-15). I since have discovered my name, Kirk, means ‘from the Church’. I am joyful that resonates with me. Sweet Jesus!