I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise;
I bow down towards your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
For you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.
On the day I called, you answered me;
my strength of soul you increased.
Psalm 138:1-3 ESVUK
A Giant Task
Our jaws hit the floor when we rounded the corner. The replica of the ark towered above us. We had not planned to go to the Ark Encounter, but we saw the sign and made a spur-of-the-moment visit on our way to Natural Bridge State Resort Park. All I could think of when I saw it was, Noah built this? I mean, I knew the ark had to be big, but my imagination could not imagine the scale. His neighbors thought he was nuts for good reason. Yet, God not only gave him the dimensions, but the faith, the deep soul strength he needed to withstand ridicule and complete the task God gave him.
David talks about this same type of strength in Psalm 138:3. Some translations use the word embolden or gave my soul boldness. After looking at the Hebrew words, I feel like strength of soul is a better translation. It is more than boldness. This wording implies deep faith and resolve. Part of what gave David his strength of soul was remembering when God had answered his call. We need to regularly remember the times God responded to our calls privately and publicly.
Dear God,
Thank you for all of the times you have answered my call. Please help me to take the time to remember your faithfulness.
Amen
Application
- What are some times in the past when God answered your call?
- Journal or pray your thankfulness for his response.
- Make a list of those times and put it somewhere you can find it when you are struggling to help you have strength of soul.
Listen
“His Strength is Perfect” by Steven Curtis Chapman