Hold Me Up!!

There is a glorious humility in this brief prayer. It is the cry of one who knows both his weakness, and his heavenly Father's ability. The psalmist does not say, "I will hold myself up!" or "I will stand in my own strength!" He knows better. He has learned the painful lesson of his own weakness and instability, and proneness to wander from God. Instead, he casts himself entirely upon the Lord: "Hold me up, and I shall be safe!" Only God can uphold His redeemed people, with corruption in their hearts, in a world full of spiritual dangers and deceits.

This verse is a declaration of the utter necessity of God's sustaining grace. The redeemed are not kept by their own willpower, intelligence, or resolve--they are "kept by the power of God through faith" (1 Peter 1:5). It is sovereign grace that chose them, grace that effectually called them, grace that redeemed them, and grace that will preserve them to the end.

Were it not for God's moment-by-moment upholding grace, no believer could endure to the end. The world entices, the flesh rebels, the devil accuses and divine grace alone keeps their feet from slipping.

The Lord's people shall not fall away finally or totally. They may fall foully, but they shall not fall finally. He who began the good work in them, will carry it on until He completes it. The same hand which gave us spiritual life, must preserve that life. Grace in the heart, is like a spark in the ocean it would be utterly quenched, unless the Lord kept it alive.

Yet God's sustaining grace is not merely a necessity it is a comfort beyond all measure. What greater security could the believer have, than to be upheld by God's everlasting arms! What sweeter assurance than to know that our safety depends, not on our grip on God, but on His mighty hold on us! "The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one" (2 Thessalonians 3:3). When fear arises, when temptations threaten, when strength fails may this prayer be our rock of refuge: "Hold me up, and I shall be safe!"

Let every believer pray this daily. Let us not rely on our own wisdom or strength. Let us lean wholly on Him who never fails. And when we are upheld, when we find ourselves still walking with God, still standing in grace, still looking to Jesus let us give Him all the praise. For it is not we who have held fast to Him but He who has held fast to us.

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

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Jude 24 ...  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

Psalm 119:117 ... Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually. ❤