Create in Me a Clean Heart: The 40-Day Challenge (Psalms)Sample

Give Thanks Because God Will Fulfill His Promise and Purpose for You

Psalm 138

Sometimes during internet correspondence, while waiting for the other party’s response, we end our letters with politely optimistic words like, “thanks in advance”. Apart from this example of written courtesy, we don’t find many situations in our lives where we would feel justified in thanking someone in advance, regardless of the attractiveness of the promises received. Our skepticism in this area is reflected in the adage “A promise is a comfort for a fool”(the Croatian version of this saying is more widely known and used than the English).

King David writes his song of thanksgiving fully aware that true joy is brought, not by the attractiveness of promises, but by the credibility of the One who promises - “for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.” It is the credibility of the One whose name stands behind the heavenly promises that is the seal of security and the reason for a grateful song. The highly exalted One who turns his gaze on us below. The One who answers when we call for help, who encourages and strengthens us, preserves our life in the midst of trouble. The One who will fulfill what he has promised.

In the past 40 days, we have read, prayed, and through the psalms we’ve pondered together and experienced many of God’s promises. We believe, we rejoice in, and with our hearts we surrender to those promises, not just because they are good, pleasant and attractive, but because we know the One who wrote his name next to those promises.

The Hebrew word “hesed”, which is translated here as steadfast love, denotes the special way in which God loves. Not with fleeting feelings, wobbly promises and superficial words, but with determined, merciful and self-sacrificing love and faithfulness.

Thank the Lord your God because his “steadfast love” endures forever.

Perhaps, while reading these psalms, you’ve thought of writing a psalm yourself, or setting an existing one to music. We encourage you to do so and share it with us (bczagreb.hr/en/challenge40) or someone else.