Psalm 37:18 and Psalm 34

The Lord knows the days of the blameless,
and their heritage will remain forever

I had a friend text me last night and all it said was "Read Psalm 37." I'm not sure why he asked me to or what prompted it. I don't know if he read my blog and thought this is what I needed...I don't know...either way, I read it. Most of it is about not worrying about evildoers who wrong you, and how God blesses the righteous and cuts off the evil.

This verse stood out to me, though. Verse 18. "Their heritage will remain forever..." It reminds me of the legacy...the heritage I have been left. The mighty and yet precious gift my mom and dad gave me. I grew up knowing God. I grew up knowing He loves me, that He will help me.

Am I my father's heritage? The only way I will remain forever is to trust in Him even now. To love Him and follow Him and leave more "heritages" to spread this gift throughout our world.

I pray that I am Dad's legacy.

Then it dawned on me that it was possible that when I was texted to read Psalm 37 that a finger could have slipped, so I tried Psalm 34. I have to say I sat and bawled while I read it. Even if it was not what my friend intended, THIS spoke to me. For the first time in a long time, I FELT GOD TODAY. It's as if this passage was written FOR ME. I still tear up thinking of the truth in this.

Psalm 34:1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11 Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

The emphasized portions are what struck me. God's ear is toward my cries. His face looks upon me...He watches me. He is near the BROKENHEARTED and SAVES the CRUSHED SPIRIT. That's ME! That's ME!

God, thank You for being near me today. Thank You for sending this to me - even if this was not what my friend intended. Bless him for it, God. Listen to my cries of grief! Be near me. Save my crushed spirit, Lord. Let me continually praise You. Let me be strong for those around me. Forgive me God when I feel so alone that I forget You are here, near me, loving me, holding me. Show me more of these comforting truths! I crave being in Your presence! Heal my heart. Take away the pain.

In all things, let me show my children who You are. Help me leave a legacy for them just as I have had through my parents. God I love You. Amen