Together in Christ: 'Faith Is the Bird That Sings!' — Psalm 13:5-6

Monday, February 20, 2023

But I trust in your unfailing love.
     I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
I will sing to the Lord
     because he is good to me.

— Psalm 13:5-6 NLT

Key Thought

Several years ago, I came across an old paperback Bible I had bought before my sophomore year of college. I loved looking at the notes and highlights I made so many years ago as a young follower of Christ. During one of my classes, I wrote down: "Faith is the bird that sings, while it is still dark, in anticipation of the dawn." I love that. The Holy Spirit challenged me through that statement to be a person who lived by faith, trusting that God can and will do what He has promised. When my faith would wain, I would turn to Hebrews 11 and look at the people listed in the "Faith Hall of Fame" of the Bible. The Spirit would use these people, named and unnamed, to restore the fire in my soul. They lived by faith, and I realized that now is my turn to live by faith!

One of the great blessings we have in the Scriptures is that we have the story of God's faithful love that preserved His people despite their flaws, failings, and times of faithlessness. [1] God kept His promises to them despite their challenges with natural disasters, ruthless warriors, tyrannical kings, and their weak faith. Yet God remained true when His human partners failed to live up to His standards. The more we know of Israel's history, the more we realize it is "HIStory" — the story of God redeeming the world through His flawed yet chosen people and His faithful love. We know we can trust God's unfailing love because we see His faithfulness demonstrated through "HIStory" again and again. He raised great leaders, tore down powerful nations ruled by ruthless tyrants, and altered the course of nature and history to preserve His promises and bring His Messiah.

We rejoice in more than God's past work in "HIStory." We praise God because He has rescued, delivered, and saved us through Jesus. He made us His children and poured out His gracious love on us through the Holy Spirit. Yes, we sing praises to God Most High! We shout with joy to our God of deliverance. He is good. His faithful love endures forever, and He lavishes His love on us. We trust in our God's unfailing love and His goodness to bring us home to live with Him in His glory, forever, where we will meet those great heroes in Hebrews 11. So, we join the bird of faith that sings in anticipation of our coming and glorious dawn!

[1] 2 Timothy 2:11-13.

Today's Prayer

YHWH, God of Israel, Father of mercy, God of all comfort, and King of all kings: Praise your name and thank you for Your unfailing love to us, your children, and unto me, Your child. Thank You. I join my heart and my words with David and say:

May the words of my mouth
     and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
     O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
*
* Psalm 19:14.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Psalm 19:1-14
  • Hebrews 11:1-12:4

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Illustration

Illustration of Psalm 13:5-6 NLT — But I trust in your unfailing love.         I will rejoice because you have rescued me.I will sing to the Lord         because he is good to me.

About This Devotional

Together in Christ is a daily devotional that focuses on what Scripture teaches about godly living in relationships.

'Together in Christ' is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.