Day 460: Psalm 77- God's Desire To Transform You Is Greater...

I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. 2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. 3 When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah
 
4 You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5 I consider the days of old, the years long ago. 6 I said, “Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.”  Then my spirit made a diligent search: 7 “Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? 8 Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah
 
10 Then I said, “I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.” 11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. 12 I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. 13 Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? 14 You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. 15 You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
 
16 When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; indeed, the deep trembled. 17 The clouds poured out water; the skies gave forth thunder; your arrows flashed on every side. 18 The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook. 19 Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen. 20 You led your people like a flock  by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
 
Meditation
God’s desire to transform you is greater than your desire to transform your circumstances. God does not always remove trouble but He promises to carry us through. God’s promise in every circumstance is that we may be more “conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29).
 
The Psalmist writes from “a day of trouble” (1) yet celebrates God’s plan to take us “through the sea,” making a “path through the waters” (19). God does not remove the barriers. God takes us through the barriers and gives us tools to trust His faithfulness. God’s tools for times of trouble are inspired invitation involving our mind, heart, and life.
 
In times of trouble we “seek the Lord” with our mind. We remember God (3), the songs we have sung in nights past (6), and the wonders of God’s faithfulness in days past (11).
 
We “seek the Lord” with our heart when we “meditate in our heart” (6). Our hearts “ponder all God’s work and meditate on His mighty deeds” (12). The Psalmist sets his heart on the redemption of God’s people from Egypt. We set our hearts on the redemption through Christ’s death on the cross. God has been faithful to save! God will save today.
 
God works wonders (14) and invites us to celebrate His faithfulness by trusting Him in times of trouble. Has his steadfast love ever ceased (8)? Nor will it today or tomorrow. God desires to transform you more than transforming your troubles. Will you trust His steadfast love?
 
Richly Dwelling
-Is your desire to be transformed by God greater than your desire to have God transform your circumstances?
 
-God promises to conform you more and more to the image of His son, Jesus Christ. Where are areas you need to grow more Christ like? How is God using your circumstances to shape you?
 
-Work on using the tools God gives you for times of trouble, remembering and meditating on His faithfulness. God has been faithful in the past. God is faithful today. God will be faithful tomorrow!
 
Key Verse
19 Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen.