More on Love and Victory

Psalm 118
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let Israel say:
"His love endures forever."
3 Let the house of Aaron say:
"His love endures forever."
4 Let those who fear the LORD say:
"His love endures forever."
5 In my anguish I cried to the LORD,
and he answered by setting me free.
6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper.
I will look in triumph on my enemies.
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
10 All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
11 They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
12 They swarmed around me like bees,
but they died out as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
13 I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
15 Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
"The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!
16 The LORD's right hand is lifted high;
the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"
17 I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the LORD has done.
18 The LORD has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of righteousness;
I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD
through which the righteous may enter.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.
22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;
23 the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 O LORD, save us;
O LORD, grant us success.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you.
27 The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine upon us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

Psalm 118 is a song and teaching of love, respect, thankfulness and victory. How often have I gone to this psalm when nothing else could touch my soul and lift me? How often have I gone to this psalm when it seemed a relationship was not working? How often have I gone to this psalm when business or ministry was in a struggling time frame? How often have I gone to this psalm when victory was in my hand? How often have I gone to this psalm when all was well and needed undergirding to stay well?

God respects us. God loves us. God encourages us. God supports us. We return the same plus thankfulness.

Victory grows in love. Love grows in victory. Love flourishes under accomplishment and support. Love can be birthed and built in thankfulness. Love can be unconditional and chosen. Love flourishes under accomplishment and support. Love develops strong when expressing respect.

Men don’t talk much about love for their leaders. They will follow a military leader into death if they love him and feel loved by him. They will grumble and lose the battle if they feel unsupported and unloved by him. They don’t talk about it. They do it.

Men don’t talk much about love for their wives and families. It is true. We exemplify the husband that tells his wife how much he loves her. We put him up as a hero and a strange phenomenon. But a man that feels supported and encouraged will give his life day and evening to serve his wife and family. He will grumble and move on if he feels unsupported and not respected and not loved and not thanked by his wife.

Respect and love are not two different items. Respect is an expression of love birthed in a relationship. That relationship started through attention gained in personality, accomplishment, or personal touch. There is a start through some action or attention. Real respect simply flows out of love. Love requires feeding to stay alive and prosper.

God not only understands this, He designed this. He designed us creatures of thankfulness. Thankfulness takes love expressed in respect. Thankfulness for support is easy. Thankfulness for encouragement flows quickly. Thankfulness for thankfulness is a quick reciprocal.

God not only understands this, He designed this. He designed us creatures of victory. Victory takes love expressed in respect. A battle for a business or family or community or economy or principle takes a love for the ones that will benefit. Some love themselves and battle. Some love others and battle. Some love themselves and others and battle. But love is the heart of every battle and the love expression of respect and dignity engages victorious action.