Friday... "But then" can make such a difference.

Psalm 77:11 (NLT), "But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago."

Friday... "But then" can make such a difference.

So how is your friday going? Did you wake up in a mess and it just doesn't seem to be getting better?

For those living in LA this is one of those times. I have lived there two different times and I have gone through some fires but nothing like what is happening right now. We turned the TV on last night and saw a house burning in Studio City just off of Coldwater Canyon. We live closed to where that fire was burning. Now when I lived there there were many fires "but then" they alway finally stopped. 

Now the words, "but then" are such a tremendous set of words. There are some people who never get to the "but thens" of life. They live in the deep troubles and that is where this Psalmist starts in Psalm 77:1-3 (NLT) by saying, "I cry out to God; yes, I shout. Oh, that God would listen to me! When I am in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted. I think of God and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help." And that is where so many people live and will live the rest of their lives.

But I want you to know that "but then" can make such a difference when we quit living in the "when I was in deep trouble." 

I love the Psalms they start with the "when I was in deep trouble" but they don't stop there. You just need to keep reading.

Verse 11 says, "But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago."

Verses 10-12 says, "And I said, 'This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me.' But then I recall all you have done, O Lord. I remember your deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts, I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works." We just need to keep reading and remembering and recalling.

It is a very good practice to start our day not with requesting but with thanking. It make such a difference recalling the good things of yesterday that God did for you and thanking him as you start your day. That helps so much in your having hope in the deep troubles you are facing. Now it may be difficult to find the good but it is there. And then thinking about what God is like and praising him gives you confidence and faith as you then give him your requests. That goes a long way in breaking the living in the despairs of our lives. Life is tough. 

The Psalmist goes on in verses 13-15. He says, "O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you? You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations. By your strong arm, you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph."

I am almost at the end in Genesis of the story of Jacob and Joseph. Today I read in Genesis 48:21, "Then Jacob said to Joseph, 'Look, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will take you back to Canaan, the land of your ancestors.'" It is such an amazing story. Verses 14-15 of Psalm 77 in The Message says, "You're the God who makes things happen; you showed everyone what you can do - You pulled your people out of the worst kind of trouble, rescued the children of Jacob and Joseph."

Now this is a great way to start your day by thanking God, by praising him for who he is, recalling what he has done by reading the Bible and then asking him with faith and confidence. Yes, "But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago." Yes, "But then" can make such a difference. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning