He did it!
For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them. ~ Psalms 44:3
When I take a look at my life and look around at where God has placed me, it can be easy for those who don’t know me to think that somehow, I made it all happen. I have a beautiful home with a wonderful husband and great children and grandchildren. From the outside, my life can look like just your ordinary everyday life. However, I had very little to do with where I am today. In fact, had my life continued on the downward spiral that it was once on, I would be among all the statics for a single mom struggling to make it all work out.
The truth is that when I stopped going in the direction I was headed and turned around and headed toward my heavenly Father instead, He made beauty out of the ash heap that I was trying to build on. When I surrendered my plans and let go of the struggle to control everything, it became clear that my success wasn’t a result of my own strength. Just like the writer of Psalms 44, I didn’t “gain possession” of anything by my own efforts. It wasn’t my wisdom or ability that rescued me from hardship or led me to the blessings I now enjoy. It was God’s right hand, His strength, and His favor that made all the difference.
Looking back, I can see how His light led me through some of the darkest times. Times when I couldn’t see a way forward, but God was there, shining His light on the path I couldn’t see. He opened doors I never could have opened on my own, and He shut doors that weren’t meant for me. Every step of the way, it was His grace that saved me.
There’s a humbling truth in knowing that what I have today—my family, my home, my peace—is not the result of my own striving, but of God’s favor and mercy. Just as the Israelites didn’t win the Promised Land through their own might, I didn’t reach this place in life by my own hand. It was God who fought for me, who strengthened me, and who blessed me with more than I could have asked for.
So, when others look at my life and think I’ve achieved this on my own, I have to smile and give credit where it’s due. It wasn’t my strength, my plans, or my power. It was the Lord’s arm, His right hand, and the light of His countenance that brought me to where I am today. It was His favor, not my works, that turned my life around.
Now, I live every day grateful, aware that it’s not about what I can do but about what God has done. And if He did it for me, I believe He can do it for anyone. All it takes is turning to Him, letting go of the illusion of control, and trusting in His mighty hand to work things out for our good. Just like Psalms 44 reminds us, our victories come from God’s hand, not our own.
Today I want to encourage you if you feel like your life is spinning out of control, surrender to the Lord Jesus and begin to follow His plan instead. It isn’t hard, but it is intentional. Start by acknowledging your need for His salvation. Recognize that you cannot do it all on your own. Be honest with yourself and God about your need for His help and pray openly about your struggles and fears. Next let go of control. Don’t be trying to control every aspect of your life but begin to trust that God has a plan for you. Then start praying for guidance. You are not waiting for something to happen; you are watching and listening for the instructions for your next step. Pray for your heart to be in line with God’s plan and direction and then be willing to step out in faith when He opens a door for you.
Lastly, remember that God loves you more than anything and is always working on getting His best into your life and trust me, His best is better than any thing you can come up with. Your life can begin to turn around today as you surrender to the love and goodness that He so desperately wants to lead you to. Trust Him today and start your new life now.
Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 44
1 We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, the deeds You did in their days, in days of old:
2 You drove out the nations with Your hand, but them You planted; You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out.
3 For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them.
4 You are my King, O God; Command victories for Jacob.
5 Through You we will push down our enemies; Through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us.
6 For I will not trust in my bow, nor shall my sword save me.
7 But You have saved us from our enemies, and have put to shame those who hated us.
8 In God we boast all day long, and praise Your name forever. Selah
9 But You have cast us off and put us to shame, and You do not go out with our armies.
10 You make us turn back from the enemy, and those who hate us have taken spoil for themselves.
11 You have given us up like sheep intended for food, and have scattered us among the nations.
12 You sell Your people for next to nothing, and are not enriched by selling them.
13 You make us a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and a derision to those all around us.
14 You make us a byword among the nations, a shaking of the head among the peoples.
15 My dishonor is continually before me, and the shame of my face has covered me,
16 Because of the voice of him who reproaches and reviles, because of the enemy and the avenger.
17 All this has come upon us; But we have not forgotten You, nor have we dealt falsely with Your covenant.
18 Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from Your way;
19 But You have severely broken us in the place of jackals, and covered us with the shadow of death.
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a foreign god,
21 Would not God search this out? for He knows the secrets of the heart.
22 Yet for Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
23 Awake! Why do You sleep, O Lord? Arise! Do not cast us off forever.
24 Why do You hide Your face, and forget our affliction and our oppression?
25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust; Our body clings to the ground.
26 Arise for our help, and redeem us for Your mercies’ sake.
The Daily Dose 