Promote Him

As a student, it was great to get that final report card at the end of school year, and read I was officially promoted to the next grade!  David’s cry for self-preservation in Psalm 57 ends like this: “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let Your glory be over all the earth.” (Psalm 57:11).  David’s plight [at the time] was staying one step ahead of King Saul who was bent on killing him – an understandable reason to plead God’s help!  A missionary in Northern Africa describes David’s words as “pain leading to praise.”  Let’s face it: most of us don’t suffer well, and pain too often leads to misery.  And don’t we know pain is inevitable – misery is optional?  God tells His people, “But the LORD of hosts, Him you shall honor as holy. Let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.” (Isaiah 8:13).  When we seek to promote God rather than ourselves, we win in all circumstances.  His promotion becomes our own promotion.  In times of joy and in times of sorrow, promote Him.