“Unto thee, O LORD,
do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not
mine enemies triumph over me.” Psalm 25:1-2 (KJV)
In Genesis 17,
Jehovah appears and challenges Abram to commit himself in total surrender to
God. And we see that Abram does so by his act of falling prostrate at Jehovah’s
feet. Such a total commitment requires faith. Consider that this was not an
experience of salvation. Prior to this event, Abram had already believed God
and it was counted to him for righteousness (Gen. 15:6). This challenge from
God and surrender by Abram was something more. It was so important that God
memorialized it in Abram’s flesh, changed his name to Abraham, and required all
of Abraham’s descendants to be circumcised. It was a red letter day in
Abraham’s life. He was totally committed to God and God was totally committed
to him.
Jehovah appears and challenges Abram to commit himself in total surrender to
God. And we see that Abram does so by his act of falling prostrate at Jehovah’s
feet. Such a total commitment requires faith. Consider that this was not an
experience of salvation. Prior to this event, Abram had already believed God
and it was counted to him for righteousness (Gen. 15:6). This challenge from
God and surrender by Abram was something more. It was so important that God
memorialized it in Abram’s flesh, changed his name to Abraham, and required all
of Abraham’s descendants to be circumcised. It was a red letter day in
Abraham’s life. He was totally committed to God and God was totally committed
to him.
In today’s passage,
the Psalmist approaches God in the same attitude of commitment. “I lift up my
soul to you, O God. I trust in you.” That’s his commitment. Then he asks God to
be committed to him. “Do not let me be ashamed. Do not let my enemies have victory
over me.” This is not some mystical, ‘get-out-of-trouble’ mantra to be chanted
when things are not going well. Rather, it is a commitment to be obedient to
God in all areas of one’s life . . . total surrender. When we give up self all
our past will lose its power over us. When we are totally surrendered to God,
our enemies will never have victory over us.
the Psalmist approaches God in the same attitude of commitment. “I lift up my
soul to you, O God. I trust in you.” That’s his commitment. Then he asks God to
be committed to him. “Do not let me be ashamed. Do not let my enemies have victory
over me.” This is not some mystical, ‘get-out-of-trouble’ mantra to be chanted
when things are not going well. Rather, it is a commitment to be obedient to
God in all areas of one’s life . . . total surrender. When we give up self all
our past will lose its power over us. When we are totally surrendered to God,
our enemies will never have victory over us.
Washington Gladden
wrote O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee.
Note the first and third verses:
wrote O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee.
Note the first and third verses:
“O Master, let me
walk with thee
walk with thee
In lowly paths of
service free;
Tell me thy secret,
help me bear
The strain of toil,
the fret of care.”
“Teach me thy
patience; still with thee
patience; still with thee
In closer, dearer
company,
In work that keeps
faith sweet and strong,
In trust that
triumphs over wrong.”
Dear Father, thank
you for your commitment to us through Jesus Christ. Today, we lift up our souls
to you and ask that you strengthen us in our submission and commitment. I pray
this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
you for your commitment to us through Jesus Christ. Today, we lift up our souls
to you and ask that you strengthen us in our submission and commitment. I pray
this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be strong and
courageous today with a surrendered life,
courageous today with a surrendered life,