Psalm 13

Trust in the Salvation of the LORD

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever?

Before I knew You, Lord, I had heard of the Ten Commandments, but I really didn’t know what “sin” was. Even after I first came to believe in You, and realized my need for repentance, I still wasn’t always aware when I was sinning. Now it seems like I recognize my sins almost constantly, and I’m asking for Your forgiveness over and over.

Do You get tired of it? Do You get sick of me pestering You for mercy? Why can’t I just stop being envious or disrespectful or angry? I’m sorry for the things I’ve done … so why can’t I change?

A friend told me he has no remorse for anything he’s ever done. He says that all those things have made him who he is today and he wouldn’t change the person he is. I don’t want to be like that, Lord! I know that apart from my repentance and Your forgiveness, I have no chance of spending eternity with You. Yet I still feel so utterly unworthy of Your amazing grace. How can I stand before You when I’m stained with sin? How can I ask for Your grace day after day?

—Carol

His Forgiveness

AS YOU COME TO KNOW ME MORE INTIMATELY, YOU GROW INCREASINGLY AWARE OF YOUR SINS. This presents you with a continual choice—to focus on your flaws and failures or to rejoice in My glorious gift of salvation. When My ultimate sacrifice is your focus, you live in joyful assurance of being wondrously loved. There is no greater Love than this, and it is yours every nanosecond of your life. The best response to such Love is to love Me with your whole being. Of course, your loving Me is not what saves you, but it does demonstrate your grateful awareness of how much I forgive you.

Tragically, many people think they have little—if anything—for Me to forgive. They have been deceived by the prevailing lie that there is no absolute truth. They think good and evil are relative terms; therefore, they see no need for a Savior. These deceived ones do not seek My forgiveness, so their sins are not forgiven and they have no love for Me. Their minds remain darkened by the evil one’s deceptions. Only My Love-Light can penetrate that thick darkness. As you walk in the Light of My Presence let My Love flow through you to others, shining into their darkness. Because you are My follower, you never walk in darkness—you have the Light of Life!

See also Psalm 13:5, 6; John 15:13; Luke 7:47; John 8:12

(From Jesus Lives by Sarah Young)

FOR MORE ON THIS TOPIC, SEE PAGE 681.

How long will You hide Your face from me?

²How long shall I take counsel in my soul,

Having sorrow in my heart daily?

How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

³Consider and hear me, O LORD my God;

Enlighten my eyes,

Lest I sleep the sleep of death;

⁴Lest my enemy say,

“I have prevailed against him”;

Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

⁵But I have trusted in Your mercy;

My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.

⁶I will sing to the LORD,

Because He has dealt bountifully with me.