ת Taw 169 May my cry come before you, Lord; give me understanding according to your word. 170 May my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise. 171 May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your decrees. 172 May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous. 173 May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. 174 I long for your salvation, Lord, and your law gives me delight. 175 Let me live that I may praise you, and may your laws sustain me. 176 I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands. REFLECTIONSWritten by Rebecca SheadReading these verses, it seems like the writer is in trouble – he's crying out to God, he asks for deliverance and help, and he’s longing for salvation. How do you respond when you’re facing troubles, or an uncertain future? I know I don’t always turn to God; instead, I feel anxious and look for ways I can help myself. But the Psalm writer looks for help in God’s word – he says it gives understanding, and it sustains him. It even gives him delight! These verses remind us that God has given us promises in his word, and that he is a God who saves! If we put our hope in God, and read his word, he will help us and even bring us delight, just like he did for the Psalm writer. Even in the middle of hard times, we can still praise him. Of course, we have even more reason to hope, because we know the salvation God offers through Jesus. I love how the psalm ends, with the picture of God searching out his lost sheep. I often find myself wandering away from God and his ways, even though I know I shouldn’t. Maybe you feel like you have wandered away from God too. In John 10:11 Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Jesus is the one who brings us back to God, by dying to save us. Thank God that he doesn’t leave us lost, but that he sent Jesus to find us! Let’s pray that we will be like the Psalm writer – that we’ll dwell on God’s word in the good times and the bad, so that we won’t stray far from the one who saves. ABOUT THE AUTHORRebecca is part of our Bossley Park Morning Church.