Encourage

As I was reading Psalm 57, I was struck by two things.  First, verse 6 tells that your enemies set traps for you, but they end up falling in them, not you.  Doesn't this give you hope?  It does me.  If I keep doing what God wants, Satan surely will keep attacking me, using everything he can.  But it will all fall away and likely make my enemies look bad. 

The second thing that I spotted right off is that no matter what, the Psalmist praised God.  Be exalted.  I will praise you. For great is Your love.  No matter what, he praises God.  He still tells him he loves and depends on him.  Do you do that when you are being persecuted?  Do you praise God for your sickness or in spite of your illness?  It can't be easy at times.  So as brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to see and share those burdens as we can.  Send a card, tell them you are thinking of them.  Visit them.  We have several that are in our midst that need our encouragement right now.  I urge you to go see them, take a meal, send a card.  It will uplift both of you!


 ¹ Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
   for in you I take refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
   until the disaster has passed.
 ² I cry out to God Most High,
   to God, who vindicates me.
³ He sends from heaven and saves me,
   rebuking those who hotly pursue me—
   God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.
 ⁴ I am in the midst of lions;
   I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
   whose tongues are sharp swords.
 ⁵ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
   let your glory be over all the earth.
 ⁶ They spread a net for my feet—
   I was bowed down in distress.
They dug a pit in my path—
   but they have fallen into it themselves.
 ⁷ My heart, O God, is steadfast,
   my heart is steadfast;
   I will sing and make music.
⁸ Awake, my soul!
   Awake, harp and lyre!
   I will awaken the dawn.
 ⁹ I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
   I will sing of you among the peoples.
¹⁰ For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
   your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
 ¹¹ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
   let your glory be over all the earth