More and More

Gary Stebbins, Church on the Rock, Melbourne, FL - February 18, 2010

We all know that at times life can be difficult. When life throws us a curve ball, how do we respond? When we seem to be overwhelmed by the difficulties we face, what do we do?

In Psalm 71, David is aware of his adversaries, those who want to see him fail. Even as his enemies consult together as to how to “pursue and seize him,” David cries out to God…“O God, do not be far from me; O my God, hasten to my help (v 12)!”

Certainly there is no better solution to our problems than to turn to God in prayer. Reading the Psalm in its entirety, you find that God was David's "confidence", a place to take "refuge", the "rock" on which he stood, his "fortress", and his sense of "hope". Prayer had become for David a natural response to the curves that life threw him.

But David does not stop with prayer. Look at what he says…“But as for me, I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more (v 14).”

Wow! In the middle of his difficulties David immediately turned to prayer, but he also resolved in his heart that he would “hope continually” in God. It did not matter how dismal the situation looked around him, he was going to keep his hope in God alive. That is so important if we are going to be successful in this life. We must continually believe that God is our hope and our salvation.

How does David keep up his hope in the face of such great difficulties? Well, he tells us…“And (I) will praise you yet more and more.”

David found it helpful, perhaps even necessary for survival, to verbally express praise to God “more and more” as the difficulties increased. It was his constant verbal expression of praise that helped him to “hope continually” in God.

I love David's resolve, "But as for me ..." David understood that he would only find victory when he hoped continually in God and praised Him more and more.

Are you facing difficulties, then immediately cry out to God in prayer. As David did, resolve to “hope continually” in God and believe that He hears and answers your prayers. At the same time, let everyone around you hear your praises for God. In this way you will build faith in your own heart so your hope in Him will grow stronger and stronger. This increased faith will energize your prayers as you cry out to God in your time of need.