The PERFECT Friend!

I just read this awesome Psalm:

146:

1 Hallelujah!

My soul, praise the Lord.

2 I will praise the Lord all my life;

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.

3 Do not trust in nobles,

in man, who cannot save.

4 When his breath leaves him,

he returns to the ground;

on that day his plans die.

5 Happy is the one whose help is the God of Jacob,

whose hope is in the Lord his God,

6 the Maker of heaven and earth,

the sea and everything in them.

He remains faithful forever,

7 executing justice for the exploited

and giving food to the hungry.

The Lord frees prisoners.

8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.

The Lord raises up the those who are oppressed.

The Lord loves the righteous.

9 The Lord protects foreigners

and helps the fatherless and the widow,

but He frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10 The Lord reigns forever;

Zion, your God reigns

for all generations.

Hallelujah!

Wow! How challenging! "Do not trust in...man, who cannot save. When his breath leaves him...on that day his plans die." Ultimately, no friend or family member can totally satisfy or fulfill my every need.

Sometimes it seems like they can. I know that I will sometimes have high expectations of my friends, and then suddenly, those expectations will all come crashing down around my ears when my friends don't fulfill them.

Now don't get me wrong...God gave us friends and fellow believers to support and love us. And I'm not saying that all friends are disloyal jerks! However, this Psalm says that my primary strength and hope should come from God. He is the only One who never fails me...ever! I mean, look at that list in verses 5-10!

He is the Maker of all that is...He knows the details of every one of His individual creations!

He is eternally faithful...He'll never "dump" us when we need Him the most!

He defends the "exploited"...He knows and cares when we're mistreated!

He provides for our physical needs...including our need for nourishment!

He frees the imprisoned, blind, and oppressed...His truth sets us free!

He looks after the "outcasts" and those who "don't belong"...we all feel like foreigners at one time or another!

He "helps the fatherless and the widow, but He frustrates the ways of the wicked." He is compassionate and loving towards those who need it the most. He is the ultimate Father!

He "reigns forever"...He'll never lose His authority!!

Wow...how amazing! Thank you, Lord, for your indescribable love!