God is for Me (Psalm 118)

Life is tough and we will get knocked down.  The truth that God is for you should encourage you daily.  The reality that God in Jesus came for you gives you your whole reason for living.  Psalm 118 is full of truth that will transform your life.

If you are getting started in a relationship with God, trying to have a quiet time or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.

Spend your first fifteen minutes of the day listening to God and responding in a personal way.  This podcast will show you how and teach you in an easy to follow process.

In fifteen minutes (or less) you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day.  What a perfect way to get started!

We are listening to Psalm 118, the last psalm of the Hallel (Psalm 113-118) that was sung at the Jewish holy festivals and especially Passover.  Psalm 118 was the last hymn sung after the Passover meal, so this was also the last song Jesus sang before the cross.  It begins, "Give thanks to Yahweh for he is good, for his loyal love lasts forever" (Psalm 118:1).  It ends with the same line in v. 29.  In between, it recalls God's deliverance of his people Israel in bringing them back to the promised land from exile among the nations.   

God is addressed in the most personal of terms.  We've been translating his covenant name "Yahweh" (traditionally "Lord" in English Bibles) throughout this series, and besides using that name often, this psalm also addresses God as "Yah", a shortened and very intimate way to speak to God.

One of the striking things about Psalm 118 is the three references to it in the gospels that are tied to Jesus' last week in Jerusalem before his crucifixion.  We give more details on the podcast, but some of the lines of the psalm will probably sound familiar.  There is more in this psalm than we can really cover in 15 minutes, so you should consider meditating on a verse or a few verses at a time.  I've been writing out sections of this psalm this week and want to invite you to do the same.  You might want to start with vv. 1, 6, 8, 16, 24, 25, 28, and 29.  You could also write out one verse a day for a month.   

If you want to get more daily encouragement you can follow me on Twitter @WordofPrayer15.  Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word.  

As we progress in season three get a copy of the book God Help Me Grow: Learning to Pray through the Psalms on Amazon (or the ebook) so you can pray all of the first 30 psalms in the book of Psalms.

You can download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1.

Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com