I Delight In Christ Alone

"In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From His temple he heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ear...He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support." Psalm 18:6,16-18

Let's face it.  Sometimes we have bad days, and even bad weekends.  Been there, done that.  And as I was feeling sorry for myself this weekend, I realized that it's really easy to feel sorry for myself when I want to focus on myself.  Thank goodness I don't have to wallow in my own thoughts and feelings.  God has given me every reason to be full of joy despite my circumstances.

I love the words of Psalm 18 as David was praising God for delivering him from the hand of King Saul.  David's life did actually stink at this point, but he was willing to cling to God's promises and to look ahead at the future.  David didn't look to circumstances for happiness.  Instead, He was filled with joy because He believed in God.

I, too, have been delivered from the hands of the enemy.  God drew me out of sin and gave me life in Jesus Christ.  When I focus on Christ alone, my personal life issues really don't matter so much.  This morning in my devotions, I was overcome with the words of the song In Christ Alone. With a song like this on my heart, my day can only get that much better.

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
 

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost it's grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand