The Pit

Psalms 30:2-3
2 O LORD my God, I called to you for help
and you healed me. 3 O LORD, you brought me up from the grave;
you spared me from going down into the pit.

Psalms 30:8-12
8 To you, O LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: 9 "What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? 10 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; O LORD, be my help." 11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 12 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Psalms 40:1-3
1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.

It wasn't the worms of the pit, nor the stench of the funk, but your absence from my life; Lord, what would I do? I began to tremble with fear as I looked up from the muddy mire and I didn't see or hear you.

It wasn't that you cared, and not that you didn't love me, but the pit is no place for the Lord Most High. It is the place I fell into and became separated from you when it was sin that which I drawed nigh. Oh Lord, what a fool was I!

The jagged rocks - the scrapes. The bottom of the pit - the THUD! My name being called - the drugs. The drink. The women. The slippery mud. My lusts, my weakness - the filthy crud.

I cried out and denounced my ruin - I surrendered to you my flesh, my heart. It was like I was never there, no mud or dirt, no filthy funk - it was like we were never apart. Your loving-kindness gave me a brand new start.

I love you, LORD. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for your unmerited favor - your grace. Thank you for pulling me out of the pit, and washing off my dirty face. One day I will stand before you as the Spirit states my case.

God bless,
Chuck Griffis, Evangelist