Preserve Me, O God!

Preserve Me, O God!

Ps. 16:1-2 testifies of a deep longing for God: “Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. O my soul, you have said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord, my goodness is nothing apart from You.’” We should search our own hearts to ensure that we have the same longing and desire that David had. When we receive God’s blessings, it can be easy to start nurturing ourselves or seeking earthly things. David feared God, and this fear of God helped him to stay away from evil and not to exalt himself.

We all face different trials and situations that we may not fully understand. But do we seek refuge in God in such moments? Then we will get fellowship with David and experience God’s goodness in the midst of these situations. With such an attitude, we will not be offended or dissatisfied, harbor envy within or make demands on others. When we live our lives with God and fear Him with all our heart, we will also cry out: “Preserve me, O God!” In this groaning we find answers to all our situations of life, and God can reveal Himself to us to a deeper degree. “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” Heb. 12:6.

The apostle John gives us comfort and hope when he writes about the great love God has shown us by calling us His children. 1 John 3:1. He assures us that we can become like Jesus: “But we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” V. 2. Think to be able to see Jesus as He really is! Is this something we remind ourselves about when trials come? Our hope is to see Jesus, and when we are conscious of this in everything we encounter, we will understand that “everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” V. 3.

It’s a blessing in our homes and in the church when there are people who live with such a hope. They are steadfast in this cry: “Preserve me, O God!” In this way they create a pleasant and heavenly atmosphere around them. Such people find the path that leads to life and they experience joy in the midst of the trials of life. “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Ps. 16:11. Let us be among them!