Peril to Praise

Consider the things we live-with, take pleasure and mostly unconscious of them - gravity, air, sunshine just to name a few. To fully appreciate such things is to further consider the consequences of their absence ... yes, it's rather scary! David spent much time writing about his enemies and how they grieved him; for example Psalm 6:6-7 (NKJV), "I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears. My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows old because of all my enemies."  I'm quite confident we all understand "sleepless nights" - tossing, turning and lying awake because of some troubling thing. This is what makes David's words so relevant; whatever was troubling him at the moment he was having a tough time shakin' it off. Tozer describes David as one "pre-occupied with God," which should inspire us at all times but especially in troubling times. "O LORD my God, in You I put my trust; save me from all those who persecute me; and deliver me ... I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High." (Psalm 7:1a, 17 NKJV). Regardless of how the enemy (Satan) comes at us and throws at us, none of it is greater than (1) what Jesus overcame in His flesh, and (2) the power and providence of God Who is over all things! Our troubles only have the power we give to them! It is possible, as David did, to turn the troubling moments into opportunities to grow in grace; casting weakness before The Lord and seeing His gracious rescue. David does this beautifully and repeatedly in his troubles: "I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me." (Psalm 13:6 AMP). What is troubling you right now - hindering your peace - robbing you of rest? Train your soul to sing in troubling times - turn your ... peril to praise.