Scripture
‘But I pray to you, Lord, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation. Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me. Answer me, Lord , out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. ‘ Psalms 69:13-17
Observation
“In the time of your great favor”…what an odd phrase David uses, to describe the season he was in! Reading on through the passage, David describes his season as ‘sinking in the mire’, ‘in the deep waters’, ‘engulfed by floodwaters’, ‘swallowed by the depths’, ‘in a pit’, and ‘in trouble’. These are not descriptions that I would equate with the ‘time of God’s great favor’!
The secret here is that David understood that God’s favor was not dependent on his circumstances. David lived continually in ‘the time of your great favor’, and prayed to God during this season of intense trial and tribulation, with a certainty in his heart that God’s favor was unfailing.
Application
It seems that our whole world is going through a time of intense trial and tribulation right now. Many of the descriptions used by David could apply today! This week I have begun to feel ‘engulfed by floodwaters’, and most certainly ‘in trouble’. When I look around at my circumstances, I see plenty of reasons to be afraid and discouraged. However! In the middle of all the doom and gloom, I have a certainty in my heart that I am still living today in the time of God’s great favor, just as I was last month, and the month before that, and the month before that. God hears my prayer when I call, and He is daily showing Himself to be my protector and my provider. His compassion is new every morning, and His blessing is unending. Even though our world is fearful of a lack of resources and disruption in supply chains, I choose to put my faith in the Almighty God whose abundant blessing will not run dry.
Prayer
God, thank you for this reminder that my circumstances do not determine Your favor in my life. Thank you for giving me peace through the storms, and supplying my every need. Help me to be mindful of the areas of abundance in my own life, where I can be a conduit of Your favor and blessing to those around me!