You Are Our God

Our God is a God of life and victory. Even though this is absolutely true, it can be hard to believe it when there is so much hurt and brokenness in the world. In fact, all of us face an enormous amount of pressure in life. Chances are you have been pressed by your job, finances, relationships, or the onslaught of disappointment that comes at us on the news every single day.

Even in the midst of hardship, God can break through and help us transcend the moment we are in.

Psalm 118 is a psalm of victory. It’s a psalm that recounts the faithfulness of God to save and to deliver. Oftentimes, when we look back on how God has worked in our lives, it will embolden us to keep moving forward in faith, even in the midst of suffering.

In verses 5-7, the psalmist writes, “When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies.”

He says that I remember the time when God delivered me to a spacious place. So even now, I don’t need to be afraid. Because He was faithful then, I can look ahead in triumph.

In verses 13-14, he goes on to say “I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”

Our God is a savior. This is in His nature. He wants to defend and protect His children. We can trust in the goodness of our God!

Worship is always the right response to the gift of God’s salvation. “Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: ‘The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things! The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!’ I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.” (v15-17). We can trust that God will lead us through whatever we are going through. The purpose of it all is to bring glory to Jesus.

In the end, God wants to be the Lord and King over every area of our lives. Anything else we would choose to give our hearts to will ultimately fail us and entrap our souls. God has sent Jesus to save us and give us a new song of praise on the earth.

Today, let’s declare who He is over our lives. “You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you.” (v28). Let’s move anything that is less than out of the center of our affection and put Jesus in His rightful place. Let’s step into the triumph of the victory He has given us through His death and resurrection.