Psalm 60 (KJV): Through God we shall do valiantly

From Psalms

Psalm 60
(For the director of music upon Shushan-eduth (festival testimony). A mitkam of David to teach. When he fought Aram Naharaim, and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.)

¹O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us,
      thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.
²Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it:
      heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.
³Thou hast shewed thy people hard things:
      thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.

⁴Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee,
      that it may be displayed because of the truth.                  Selah.

⁵That thy beloved may be delivered;
      save with thy right hand, and hear me.
⁶God hath spoken in his holiness;
      I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem,
      and mete out the valley of Succoth.
⁷Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
      Ephraim also is the strength of mine head;
      Judah is my lawgiver;
⁸Moab is my washpot;
      over Edom will I cast out my shoe:
      Philistia, triumph thou because of me.

⁹Who will bring me into the strong city?
      who will lead me into Edom?
¹⁰Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off?
      and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies?
¹¹Give us help from trouble:
      for vain is the help of man.
¹²Through God we shall do valiantly:
      for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

Here David was fighting for the Lord in the north and mistakenly though that he was safe from attack from the south.  In this same manner, we often find ourselves victorious in part, or parts, of lives only to experience defeat in another area we thought we were safe.  As an addict and alcoholic it was more than this - almost no part of my life was victorious.  My life was unmanageable - all of it.

It is a slow journey to bring victories to the various aspects of my life.  However, as I do I constantly find areas where I am under sneak attack, like David in the south.  When my recovery seems in check something at home comes up that surprises me.  When my family life seems victorious an issue at work sneaks up on me.  When these happen, I remind myself to keep focused, not be distracted by the lure of my addictions.  It helps to pray verse 12, "Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies."  For God knows you're up to the job he's assigned you.

Thanks for letting me share.