Psalm 18:16-19
But me he caught—reached all the way from sky to sea; he pulled me out Of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos, the void in which I was drowning. They hit me when I was down, but GOD stuck by me. He stood me up on a wide-open field; I stood there saved—surprised to be loved!
I recently created a new playlist on my Spotify account. I named the playlist “Worthy.” Worthy is one of my current favorite songs. In this song Anthony Brown highlights the following three thoughts:
- He thought I was worth saving, so he came and changed my life.
- He thought I was worth keeping, so he cleaned me up inside.
- He thought I was to die for, so he sacrificed his life, so I can be free, so I be whole, so I can tell everyone I know.
I think these thoughts expresses the mood of this passage in Psalm 18. If you’re like me, I don’t always see myself as being worthy. I don’t always see myself as worth keeping. I don’t see myself as worth dying for.
But God surprises me every time I get caught beating myself up:
He reaches from sky to sea
I forget too often that I’m not too far from Him. I forget too easily that there is no distance he wouldn’t go to find or save me.
He pulls me out of an ocean of hate
I forget how much I have been forgiven. How long he suffers for me. I forget to apply that same long suffering to others when they sin against me.
He pulls me out of my drowning void
I forget that I live and move and have my being in Him. That he has the words of life. He has the very words that can satisfy, more than material things can.
He sticks by me in my lonely hour
I forget that he is the friend that sticks closer than a brother. That he is near me, even on my lips. That at the mention of His name demons tremble. Yet, I choice the misery in a pity party.
He sets my feet on a solid rock to stand when I’m slipping
If I could see the battles he fights for me on a daily basis, it would blow my mind. But I still fail to say thank you.
He brings me into a spacious place
That thought only floors me. His commitment is relentless compared to mine.
He saves me
When I look at all that he’s done and continues to do. How He pursues me, will go anywhere for me, stand by me, and save me when I feel un-savable, unlovable, ungrateful, and rebellious.
I’m surprised by his love! Because,
- instead of great wrath -I get great grace
- instead of hash rebuke – I get helpful redo
- instead of the fiery furnace – I get, the father’s favor
- instead of severe chastisements – I get second chances
- Instead of vengeful discipline – I get the victor’s delightful mercy
Take a moment and share a time God surprised you by/with His love…
Walter Bright 
Reblogged this on JesseGarboden.
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Walter, I’ve been thinking about your words and the selection from Psalm 18 all week. My post this week is my take on “surprised by His love.” I’ve linked back to your post. Thanks for the inspiration!
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I would love to read what the Lord has given you. See you on your blog!
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Walter, I am surprised by the infinite mercy God shows us–particularly when we least deserve it.
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When we least deserve it… yes!
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This morning. I was reading today’s verses and then He jumped out and added something I would have missed. Because I read His verses and saw love and thought it Love. But He took His verses and showed me LOVE! And that left me something that will change another bit of me deep inside – a bit that will change how I am. Once again He surprised me with His LOVE and my understanding of His Love!
(and then here you and He are – “concreting in” His change in me with your words here!) 🙂
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Wow! His ways are past finding out… I love it when hits me deep inside, you know, that place, deep inside. Words can’t express the feeling.
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But we keep trying – because it keeps “flowing” with too much “something”! 🙂
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Hay Walter; Ya been doin some good stuff here lately! God Bless.. Bro Pat.
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Thanks brother Pat… good to hear from you. Keep up the good work.
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This afternoon I read a newsletter from an organization helping victims come out of s.e.x. trafficking. What depths of suffering! But thank God his love is greater.
This evening I saw these verses from Psalms 18 and remembered these women who have escaped from an ocean of hate. I sent your post url to the organization to be an encouragement to them.
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May the Love overwhelm them with His love. I will be praying for them and that the Lord will make the post a true blessing. That he will use it to lift them. Thanks for sharing – it’s all for his glory.
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God suprises me with His love, grace, mercy and favor daily brother Walt, it just took some time for me to develope that spiritual eye to see, and the spiritual ear to hear. Another great post!!!
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Thanks Stacy
Stay blessed!
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Fantastic Walter. I am surprised by God’s love for me every day in so many ways. All I have to do is think about it and I get overwhelmed.
God bless,
James
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That’s all it takes… thanks James…
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