Loving God #8—Loving Praises

I love you, Lord, because you have heard my pleas for mercy, and listened to me. It seemed as if the ropes of death tightened around me,  I was confronted with trouble and sorrow.  Because of your reputation for integrity I prayed, “Please, rescue me!”  You have been gracious, righteous and compassionate to me. You protected me when I was still naive. When I was in serious trouble you delivered me. I can rest occasionally because you have been good to me. Lord, you even kept my feet from stumbling so I can continue to serve you in the land of the living. Because you are my source of strength,  my high ridge, my stronghold, my deliverer, I take shelter in you. You bring me into a broad place; rescuing me, because you delight in me. For I have kept to your ways and have not wickedly departed from following you. With the kind you show yourself kind; with the blameless you show yourself blameless. With the pure you show yourself pure, and with the crooked you show yourself astute. As the light of my life, you illumine the darkness of the world so I can see what is truly valuable. As you strengthen my heart, I feel like I can leap over a wall. There is no one like you. You make my feet like the feet of a mountain goat that can traverse sheer walls. You have also given me the shield of salvation, and your right hand upholds me. Your willingness to help enables me to prevail. You widen the path I follow, and my feet have not slipped. How I look forward to living in the kingdom you have promised to all who love you. (Psalm 116; 18; James 2)