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The Psalm 40 Study Introduction

Writer's picture: Melissa GrawMelissa Graw
' I WAITED patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up out of a horrible pit [a pit of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay (froth and slime), and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings. And He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many shall see and fear (revere and worship) and put their trust and confident reliance in the Lord. - Psalm 40:1-3

Several years ago I was sitting in a revival service at church when the evangelist shared this scripture. I have heard this scripture quoted for years, but in that moment when he referred to it, I felt the Holy Spirit strike a cord within me.  Over the next few days, I read this scripture over and over and as I read it, I saw a pattern or rather a process of discipleship emerge. Over the next several months I studied every aspect of this scripture meditating on it continually.  Through this process, God brought an incredible healing breakthrough to some strongholds I had. 


I want to share an illustration that conveys my heart's cry for anyone reading this and feeling stuck in old patterns of life. I heard this while watching one of my favorite TV shows, the West Wing.  


Leo McGary is sharing this with Josh Lyman, who had recently undergone a trauma:

This guy's walking down a street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep, he can't get out. A doctor passes by, and the guy shouts up, "Hey you, can you help me out?" The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a priest comes along, and the guy shouts up "Father, I'm down in this hole, can you help me out?" The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a friend walks by. "Hey Joe, it's me, can you help me out?" And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, "Are you stupid? Now we're both down here." The friend says, "Yeah, but I've been down here before, and I know the way out.”

Friend, I don’t have all the answers, however I do know the way out, through Jesus Christ. You do not have to stay stuck; stuck in un-forgiveness. stuck as a victim , stuck in negative thoughts and feelings, stuck in emotional trauma, stuck in a lifestyle that God didn’t intend and so on. You can break free!


It's amazing to me if you read the Bible closely, God always reveals steps, process, and patterns to everything He does.  He makes applying the word, much easier than we believe it to be.  So often we get stuck in the language, or the phrases, customs of the times, and miss the the process of deliverance and healing.  


I hope that through this study over the next several weeks, you will find a process to break you free from the old ways of thinking, behaving, reacting, speaking and loving others.  For me, negativity both spoken and in thought were strongholds I dealt with for years. I have had relapses at times, but when I do, I go back to this model of deliverance and it pulls me back to center.


So before we dive into this step by step over the weeks ahead, let’s take a look at the overall process. I used the Amplified version because it gives the most detail from the Hebrew words.


Step 1: Expect God. Understanding we must get in a position of expectation that God can and will do anything to set us free. It first starts with our desire and expectation.


Step 2: God leans in. Acknowledging God is close to us. If we take a step towards Him, He takes 2 steps. He leans into our prayers and is so close to us.


Step 3: He hears us. This is huge to accept, that the God of the universe, hears when we call out to Him in whispered prayers even when we can’t formulate the words, He hears us.


Step 4: He draws us out of the pit. What is your pit? What have you been enslaved by?  God is the one who pulls us out, we don’t have to pull ourselves out.


Step 5: He sets our feet upon a rock.  In scripture, He is often times referred to as THE ROCK.  We build a new foundation with new truth founded on who He is.


Step 6: He steadies our steps and establishes our path.  He helps us get back on the road to our purpose and future.  Because we all have one and it’s good.


Step 7: He has put a new song in our mouth, a song of praise.  We will be different! We will no longer speak the same way. We will have joy in our hearts, because we are free.


Step 8: We will testify. Because we are joyful of what God has done in your life, you will testify by your life to your lost loved ones, co-workers, and whomever you come in contact with. 


So over the next 8 weeks, we will dive into each of these topics. I will pose serious questions to you because I want you do some personal evaluation between you and God.  I pray that you will meditate on the scripture and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal where you are in each step and what God needs to do personally within you.  God is willing to change your life because you are of great value to Him and His kingdom work! 









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