Psalm 141 is a cry for help from King David to God while he was living in a cave due to people hunting him. He says that no one is looking out for his soul but God. In verse 7 King David says "Bring my soul out of prison, so that I may give thanks to Thy name..." He was at one of his lowest points but he wanted to get out of this trial so that he could tell others of how God got him out!

This challenged me to boast in God's work in my life. And though the Lord has not brought me as low as David was in this psalm, I hope you can also see His handly work in my life. And that you can rejoice with me in these trials that He sovereignly and lovingly gave me.

In an earlier blog entry, I wrote about a rat that terrorized my apartment and how the Lord was teaching me dependence on Him by taking so many things away. But what I didn't mention was all the other things He took away from me that week and the week before. Since He is incontrol of all things, I know that He allowed these things to be taken from me to that in the end I'd be refined as gold in a fire.

He took away rest and sleep, my apartment (for a little while), strength, self-sufficiency, my bike (which was stolen), a close friend (moved away), verbal encouragement, assurance that I'm a good worker, assurance that I'm making a difference, seeing growth in my walk, and even taking way physical strength in my wrists (which went and came back for unknown reasons but to teach me).

Most of these were to teach me dependence on God and others within the body of Christ. The things that I doubted or had a lack of assurance, were to teach me that my worth should not be found in other's opinions of me or in how much work I get done (for those who know me, you know how much I put into my work). But my worth is to be found in Christ. He is the perfect Teacher!

After the Lord took these away to show me what I needed to change, He returned most of these things to me. The challenge I know face, is to not let them be a stumbling block to me again. If they are, then I fear that the Lord will use more drastic ways to teach me. I just hope that I'm not as stubborn as I think I am.

Thanks for praying for me, I need it!