Established on the Rock
“He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD.” – Psalms 40:2-3
These two verses sum up my life story. God pulled me out of a horrible pit—a pit I had gotten myself into. He set my feet upon a rock, not just on any rock but the Rock, Jesus! Now, He is establishing my steps, day by day, on His perfect path of righteousness. And He has put a new song in my mouth. I no longer sing the songs of gloom, despair, or agony. My new song is one of praise and thankfulness! I’m thankful for what He pulled me out of. I had fallen into a pit, then laid down and wallowed in it. It was the pit of selfishness. I was living for me, thinking I was the only one who could make me happy. But I was wrong—I was miserable.
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved me,” lifted me out of that horrible pit! Glory to God! Now He holds me day by day, and I never want to go back. My desire is to stay so close to Him that I never fall into that self-centered pit again. And it’s not just a wish—I have a plan in motion to stay close to Him. Here’s how it started:
Several years ago, I sensed the Lord calling me to get up early each morning to spend an hour with Him in prayer and worship. I was excited at first, but that excitement quickly faded. Soon I was struggling to keep up with it, and this struggle continued for several years. Some mornings it happened, and some it didn’t. I could not make it into a habit. Every time I failed to follow through, I felt bad. But I noticed something important: on the days I gave God the first part of my day, everything seemed to go smoothly. On the days I didn’t, it felt like I was playing catch-up, constantly behind and chasing after the day.
Then one day, I decided to shift my perspective. I began to see this time with God as an offering. I would sacrifice some of my sleep and give that time to Him as an offering instead. That change in my thinking transformed my life! Before, I wanted change but wasn’t fully willing to make it happen. I was trying to live from miracle to miracle instead of walking in His divine direction. Don’t get me wrong—God has worked many miracles in my life, and I still depend on His intervention in times of crisis. But now I find my life far more fulfilling when I walk in obedience to His Word and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Just like David in Psalms 40, I too found myself in a pit, one that I had dug with my own hands through selfishness and misguided priorities. David’s cry for deliverance resonates with my own journey. He wrote, “He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.” This verse speaks volumes about how God meets us in our darkest moments. David’s “horrible pit” reflects the places of despair, where we feel trapped by our own decisions, yet God doesn’t leave us there. He places our feet upon the firm foundation of Jesus, the Rock, and gives us new direction and purpose. Much like David, I no longer sing songs of defeat and misery. Instead, He has put a new song of praise in my heart, and I rejoice in the freedom that only He can provide. His mercy is endless, and His plans for me are far greater than I could ever imagine.
This same promise extends to all of us, no matter the pit we’ve found ourselves in. As David’s life was a testimony to God’s faithfulness, your life can become a reflection of His mercy and grace too. God has an incredible plan for each of our lives, and the only way to walk it out is step by step, day by day, in His presence.
Today, I want to encourage you to make time to listen for His daily guidance. Setting aside time for God is the most important habit you can start. It doesn’t have to be at the crack of dawn, like it is for me, but it should be a priority in your day. Set an appointment with God and commit to keeping it. I promise you—this simple habit will change your life for the better! Before long you will find yourself singing a new song and trusting God in every area of your life.
Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 40
1 I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, and heard my cry.
2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.
3 He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord.
4 Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust, and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
5 Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
6 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.
7 Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me.
8 I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.”
9 I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness in the great assembly; Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O Lord, You Yourself know.
10 I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great assembly.
11 Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O Lord; Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me.
12 For innumerable evils have surrounded me; My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; They are more than the hairs of my head; Therefore my heart fails me.
13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me!
14 Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion who seek to destroy my life; Let them be driven backward and brought to dishonor who wish me evil.
15 Let them be confounded because of their shame, who say to me, “Aha, aha!”
16 Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, “The Lord be magnified!”
17 But I am poor and needy; Yet the Lord thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God.
The Daily Dose 