10 July Psalm 71

*As for me, I will always have hope* Psalm 71:14(NIV) As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. While reading Psalm 71, verse 14 stood out. David begins with the words: As for me, signifying his firm decision, regardless of the circumstances, who opposes him, or what crises he faces. David is in a crisis but decides to put his trust in the Lord. The phrase As for me indicates a steadfast decision, unaffected by what others say, what the newspapers report, or what economists predict. He boldly declares: As for me, I will always have hope. This is a significant statement to make. It's easy to lose hope when things don’t go our way, but here David firmly decides, he will always hope! The Bible speaks clearly about the power of decision-making.                Job 22:28(AMP) says: You will also decide and decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And the light will shine upon your ways. Today, I, Patrick, decide: As for me, I will always hope. But it doesn’t stop there. Not only has David decided to always hope, but he has also resolved to praise God more and more. As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. “I shall expect deliverance after deliverance, and blessing after blessing; and, in consequence, I will praise thee more and more. As thy blessings abound, so shall my praises,” says Clarke (Commentary on the Bible by Adam Clarke. Spurgeon observes: “When I cannot rejoice in what I have, I will look forward to what shall be mine, and will still rejoice.” He continues, saying: “A dying hope would bring forth declining songs; as the expectations grew more dim, so would the music become more faint; but a hope immortal and eternal, flaming forth each day with intenser brightness, brings forth a song of praise which, as it shall always continue to arise, so shall it always gather new force.” Let’s decide today, like David: As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.