A PERSONAL TESTIMONY

OPENING PRAYER:

Show me Your goodness today, Jesus. Reveal Your heart to me.

READ: Psalm 116,117

Psalm 116

1 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.

2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

3 The cords of death entangled me,

the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow.

4 Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!”

5 The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.

6 The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me.

7 Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.

8 For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling,

9 that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

10 I trusted in the Lord when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”;

11 in my alarm I said, “Everyone is a liar.”

12 What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me?

13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.

14 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.

16 Truly I am your servant, Lord; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains.

17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.

18 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people,

19 in the courts of the house of the Lord— in your midst, Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 117

1 Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.

2 For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord.

REFLECT:

Hopefully today you have the opportunity to worship with others. What do you look forward to? How do you prepare yourself?

Psalm 116 is a personal testimony expressing deep love for God after a time of trial and suffering. The first half of the psalm (1–11) centers on verse 7 and the experience of God’s goodness. Looking back the writer remembers how he had been in dire straits – distressed (3), deeply upset (8) and greatly afflicted (10). Whether he was facing some terrible illness or crushing disappointment, he had cried out to God for mercy and found deliverance. His experience has deepened his love for God, whom he knows first-hand to be gracious and compassionate (5).

In the second part (12–19) he turns his thoughts to how he should respond in the light of such goodness (12). His path is clear. He must join with others in worship and share testimony of what he has experienced. Gratitude and thanksgiving fill his heart and he must find other people of faith with whom to share his joy (17–19).

Christianity has a communal aspect to it. We are not meant to be alone, but to take our place in the family of God, hopefully with a story to tell. Never underestimate the value of being rooted in a local church.

APPLY:

How have you experienced the goodness of God? How can you express your gratitude? Are you at home with the people of God? Can you share a story of God’s goodness with a fellow believer today?

CLOSING PRAYER:

My Lord, You are so good to me. May I shout out Your praise to those around me today.

WORSHIP:

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