Psalm 73
21  When my soul was embittered,
when I was pricked in heart,
22  I was brutish and ignorant;
I was like a beast toward you.
23  Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
24  You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
25  Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26  My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27  For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
28  But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.

We live in a fallen world.

We will all face situations that will prick our hearts and tempt us to be bitter.

How did the Psalmist move beyond his bitterness?

How did the Psalmist move beyond his brutishness, ignorance and beastliness toward the Lord God to a firm assurance of God's goodness and sufficiency resulting in adoration and praise?

Look back to verses 16-17a:

If you are feeling like the Psalmist, if you are wearied and can make no sense of your current circumstances, run to the sanctuary of God and make Him your refuge. There is no true and lasting goodness apart from being near Him.

And afterwards, when you do taste and see He is good, go and tell of all His works!

" Thursday, December 19 [1844].—How sweet the Word to my taste! Enjoyment of fellowship with God in prayer. My peace interrupted by the secret workings of the impatient, restless flesh. ' When I would do good, evil is present with me.' Difficulty of restraining the tendency to impatience under the crosses of the day. The very tendency disabled me to draw, as I should have done, upon the treasures of strengthening, sanctifying grace which are in Christ.

" O to be free from the body of this death! It would gladly, if it could, free itself from the restraints of God's blessed Word and Spirit !  When shall the enemy be slain, and my soul wholly free ! Went with my rankling sore to the throne of grace. Some comfort. I am ashamed to be always, always going back to God stained with guilt; but still I have found God gracious—ready to heap coals of fire upon my head by pouring out on my hell-deserving soul the treasures of His love and pity. ' There is forgiveness with Thee, that thou mayest be feared.' ' Gifts for men, yea, for the rebellious also !' O my soul, bless the Lord, ' who forgiveth all thine iniquities.'

" Lord Jesus, O that I were holy as Thou art holy! ' How long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph ?' They say unto me daily, ' Where is now thy God ?' O Lord, plead in me Thine own cause; shew that, as Thou art my righteousness, Thou art my sanctification also."

Scripture quotations from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

  
yes, you struck twice for your own selfish gain
come out of the dark, for you the Lamb was slain

today's a new day, of this you can be sure
I am the LORD and My mercies forever endure

today's a new day, and I am your light
once fallen, now shake off the dust and arise

today's a new day, your confession complete
the contrite and broken I take delight to greet

today's a new day, heed not the liar
I am your Mediator, and I am your qualifier

today's a new day, o! glory-besotted
your scarlet sins forgiven and blotted

today's a new day, no more be ashamed
no longer be downcast, I carried your blame

today's a new day, past failures still taunting
slay by My sword, keep them from haunting

today's a new day, My blood has been shed
sifting's past, now go, My flock needs to be fed

today's a new day, I was sent to save
so send I you to exalt and hallow My name

today's a new day, I am the eternal King
discard Saul's armor, take staff, stones and sling

today's a new day, remember My fame
recount My deliverance, face Goliath in My name

today's a new day, be not alarmed
I see the enemy as bees surround and swarm

today's a new day, though you are worn
truly I will quench them all like a fire of thorns

today's a new day, have I ever lied?
have I not, will I not always fully provide?

today's a new day, take heed, My bride
will I ever divorce you or leave your side?

today's a new day, in My armor be dressed
for we wrestle against neither blood nor flesh

today's a new day, the battle is Mine
your weapons not carnal, but wholly divine

today's a new day, be not distressed
at Me do not stumble, resort not to your flesh

today's a new day, be not afraid
the sun will not smite for I am your shade

today's a new day, worship at My feet
the haughty I lower, the humble I cause to leap

today's a new day, take heart, do not fear
I will make your feet like those of the deer

today's a new day, I am the Almighty
on Me fix your heart, look not to the enemy

today's a new day, stand firm on the wall
am I not the King of kings and Lord of all?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

today's a new day, by grace my fears tame
no glory to me, for I change, You are the same

today's a new day, a pilgrim in this tent
My Shepherd, send me and I will be sent

today's a new day, by grace help me wait
in prayer persevere, so I will not tire or faint

today's a new day, pour down Your power
by faith I stand on You, my Rock and high tower

today's a new day, I will lift up Your name
no glory to me, but all to You for Your fame

today's a new day, of this I am assured
You are the LORD and Your mercies forever endure

Luke 22:31  Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32  but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.

MIcah 7
7  But as for me, I will look to the LORD;
I will wait for the God of my salvation;
my God will hear me.
8  Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;
when I fall, I shall rise;
when I sit in darkness,
the LORD will be a light to me.
9  I will bear the indignation of the LORD
because I have sinned against him,
until he pleads my cause
and executes judgment for me.
He will bring me out to the light;
I shall look upon his vindication.
10  Then my enemy will see,
and shame will cover her who said to me,
“Where is the LORD your God?”
My eyes will look upon her;
now she will be trampled down
like the mire of the streets.
11  A day for the building of your walls!
In that day the boundary shall be far extended.
12  In that day they will come to you,
from Assyria and the cities of Egypt,
and from Egypt to the River,
from sea to sea and from mountain to mountain.
13  But the earth will be desolate
because of its inhabitants,
for the fruit of their deeds.
14  Shepherd your people with your staff,
the flock of your inheritance,
who dwell alone in a forest
in the midst of a garden land;
let them graze in Bashan and Gilead
as in the days of old.
15  As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt,
I will show them marvelous things.
16  The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might;
they shall lay their hands on their mouths;
their ears shall be deaf;
17  they shall lick the dust like a serpent,
like the crawling things of the earth;
they shall come trembling out of their strongholds;
they shall turn in dread to the LORD our God,
and they shall be in fear of you.

18  Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity
and passing over transgression
for the remnant of his inheritance?
He does not retain his anger forever,
because he delights in steadfast love.
19  He will again have compassion on us;
he will tread our iniquities under foot.
You will cast all our sins
into the depths of the sea.
20  You will show faithfulness to Jacob
and steadfast love to Abraham,
as you have sworn to our fathers
from the days of old.

I John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10  If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 2:1  My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2  He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

• Psalms 18 and 118
• Links to my "Conversations with God about failure"
• Links to my series "Dealing with Past Sins & Guilt"
  
• Dealing with past sins & guilt: Micah 7-False guilt vs.Godly guilt
• Links to my series Kingdom-Obsessed People don't keep looking back in the rear view mirror
• What Is Success? What Is Making a Difference? (Series Links)
• My posts tagged "Ministry Encouragement"
• "Failure!"
• THE SIFTING OF PETER (Longfellow)
• Encouragements to press on in battling sin, # 2: moving beyond despondency | Scougal
• God uses men with "no outstanding abilities"
• our insufficiency for ministry
• "Satan tempted me to hold my tongue..." (Whitefield)
• William Perkins on Isaiah 6 and the tongue
• Forgiveness & cleansing of sin leads to God's Commission: "Penitents should be preachers"
• Naphtali News/Bible Reading: Isaiah-Looking at My Vineyard
• temptation, backsliding & God's immutability (Bible reading: Hebrews 6:17-18)
• the door, the sword, the crown ~ through faith & patience (Hebrews 6:11-12)
• Why do I write poetry?
• When they conspire, do I make my prayer to You? (Nehemiah 4:7-9)
• ministry & perseverance (Even after Kadesh "Moses did as the LORD commanded." Will I?)
• the laborer's lamentation and affirmation
• Letter 9 on assurance and fighting for joy in contending for the Gospel
• Letter 16 on assurance and fighting for joy (our prayers, His wise denials and joy)
• Letter 17 on assurance and fighting for joy (will we be diligent to enter into His joy?)
• How can I be joyful weeping over Jerusalem? (Letter 50 on assurance & joy)
• a conversation with Jesus about trials & joy (Letter 34 on assurance & fighting for joy)
• Why, Lord? (Letter 52 on assurance & fighting for joy)
• Rejoicing in Winter?
• Will you finish your course with joy? (Acts 20:24) - letter 71 on assurance & joy
• a conversation with Jesus about misplaced joy ("do not rejoice in this" - letter 73 on joy)
• He will abundantly pardon for your joy (Isaiah 55) | Letter 102 on assurance & fighting for joy
• Kingdom-Obsessed People don't seek "great things" for themselves (Baruch)
  
• even in my disappointment - still blessed by my Father
• every time (the prophet's affirmation in depression, doubt & distress)
• without Kingdom vision, my vision will perish (reaping from Livingstone's Kingdom vision)

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Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.