Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Crosswords" for Saturday, 18 October 2014 - Read Psalm 138:1-8

Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Crosswords" for Saturday, 18 October 2014 - Read Psalm 138: A David Psalm
1-3 Thank you! Everything in me says “Thank you!”
    Angels listen as I sing my thanks.
I kneel in worship facing your holy temple
    and say it again: “Thank you!”
Thank you for your love,
    thank you for your faithfulness;
Most holy is your name,
    most holy is your Word.
The moment I called out, you stepped in;
    you made my life large with strength.
4-6 When they hear what you have to say, God,
    all earth’s kings will say “Thank you.”
They’ll sing of what you’ve done:
    “How great the glory of God!”
And here’s why: God, high above, sees far below;
    no matter the distance, he knows everything about us.
7-8 When I walk into the thick of trouble,
    keep me alive in the angry turmoil.
With one hand
    strike my foes,
With your other hand
    save me.
Finish what you started in me, God.
    Your love is eternal—don’t quit on me now.
The psalmist wrote, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me.”(Psalm 138:8 (NRSV))
I’ve never been a crossword puzzle enthusiast. However, many of my friends complete them in ink!Even so, after retirement I decided that challenging crosswords would keep my mind active. A reluctant beginner, I discovered that my pencil’s eraser wears out long before the lead is gone, and using ink is simply out of the question. Effortlessly, I enter what seems to be an absolutely correct word. Other words fall into place, and I think I’m on a roll when suddenly my progress screeches to a halt.
This experience reminds me of an earlier time in my life when my husband and I, along with our church, believed God was leading us into full-time mission work. Circumstances fell into place — at times almost effortlessly, at other times almost miraculously — confirming what we believed. Later a situation shattered the plans, and our progress screeched to a halt.
Today, life is very different from the possibilities of 40 years ago. But with the passing of time I can see that the convictions and faith we held then were not foolhardy, reckless, or misguided; rather they were conscientious, diligent steps of deep-rooted faith. Over the years, events had led us in a direction that I could not have anticipated. With that same deep-rooted faith, I hold fast to the hope that “the Lord will fulfill his purpose for me.”
The Author: Beverly Taylor (Colorado)
Thought for the Day: We can trust God no matter the circumstances.
Prayer: O God, help us to trust your wisdom in everything. Amen.
Prayer focus: Those serving in full-time mission work
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