Thurs., 9/3/15 Devotion (Ps. 44:4)

Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 44:4, where we read these words:

"You are my King, O God; command victories for Jacob."

This is an interesting verse (above); and one from which we can learn a lot. The psalmist first pledges allegiance to God, as his personal and covenantal "King"; and then he immediately has the holy "audacity" to ask Him (God) to "command victories for Jacob."

The point is this: God is a Sovereign King that listens to His children. He does not sit in heaven, "protecting" Himself from the intrusions of His saints on earth. Instead, He welcomes our prayers; *wants* us to ask Him for things; and almost "entices" us to be as bold as we want to be with Him. All of this is because of God's incredible love for His redeemed church, (in Christ).

[Puritan quote of the day: "There is nothing that would render the true religion more lovely, or make more proselytes [converts] to it, than to see the profes-sors of it tied together with the heart-strings of love.” —Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]