Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 24

Introduction...

Day 24 Psalm 66:8-20 Experiencing God's trimming in trials and tests
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 18-20）
8 Praise our God, all peoples,
let the sound of his praise be heard;
9 he has preserved our lives
and kept our feet from slipping.
10 For you, God, tested us;
you refined us like silver.
11 You brought us into prison
and laid burdens on our backs.
12 You let people ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water,
but you brought us to a place of abundance.
13 I will come to your temple with burnt offerings
and fulfill my vows to you—
14 vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke
when I was in trouble.
15 I will sacrifice fat animals to you
and an offering of rams;
I will offer bulls and goats.
16 Come and hear, all you who fear God;
let me tell you what he has done for me.
17 I cried out to him with my mouth;
his praise was on my tongue.
18 If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened;
19 but God has surely listened
and has heard my prayer.
20 Praise be to God,
who has not rejected my prayer
or withheld his love from me!


[Sharing]
When we are in all kinds of trials and tests (prison, burdens, fire and water), often we ask: "Where is my God? Has he forgotten me? Did he hear my prayer?" But the psalmist has a different understanding of trials and prayer.

God loves us, so he tests us, refines us like silver, brings us into prison, lays burdens on our backs, and even lets people ride over our heads. All these circumstances are for one purpose: bring us to a place of abundance after going through fire and water. During the tests, our sins are revealed. Sin is what God hates, and it is also the greatest obstacle when we pray to God. [If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened (v18)]. Let us pray that God will help us, not only reveal our sins, but also set us free from the power of sin, and come to Him with clean hands and pure hearts. He will turn his ear to us and not reject our prayer. (DX)