He that takes care of our times, will take care of our eternity. (“My Times Are In Your Hand”, Volume 37, Sermon #2205 – Psalm 31:15)

Charles Spurgeon

But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, “You [are] my God.”  My times [are] in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me.  Make Your face shine upon Your servant; Save me for Your mercies’ sake.

Psalm 31:14-16, NKJV

Several years ago I watched an interview with a man who was ministering in a dangerous area.  Somewhere in the interview I heard him say, “I am immortal until the work God has called me too is done.” The thought struck me as profound. God has a plan and a purpose for our lives. We may get through some scrapes “by the skin of our teeth” but in those instances we can look back and see God’s hand was holding us.

I’ve since heard similar phrases attributed to many different individuals such as Henry Martin, George Whitfield, and even David Jeremiah. (I think they all probably picked it from King David in the Psalms.) David was God’s anointed and he knew that he would ascend to the throne in God’s timing. He couldn’t die yet, God’s promises weren’t fulfilled. David wasn’t playing by his own rules, making it up as he went along, he was playing a role in God’s kingdom. 

I really like David in the 31st Psalm. His back is against the wall. His enemies are after him. They are plotting his demise. He has some serious problems and so he goes to God in serious prayer.  Through his praying, David comes to rest in God’s sovereignty.  While David’s circumstance are our of his hands, they are never out of God’s hands. So through the prayer over his problems, David comes to a place of praise. 

While his enemies surround him and stare at him in the eye like a predator looks at it’s prey. David doesn’t look back. He looks beyond his enemies to God. He knows that God sees and that God will act to save him. He belongs to God and His time is in God’s hands. 

Now I know we’re not David, but I think some of those principals still apply. We can be content in whatever circumstances we face because God is in control. Like David we don’t need to look too long at our circumstances, we need to look to Christ!

Father, Your word is true and good. Today we are reminded that you have a plan and a purpose for our lives. Let us live seeking your will. Your kingdom come, your will be done in our lives, in families, in our jobs, in our living. Let us look to you and may we have the pleasure of feeling your face shine on us. In Jesus Name, Amen.