By Dave Branon, Our Daily Bread Writer

PHOTO: Psalm 54
vindicate me by your might.
Hear my prayer, O God;
Listen to the words of my mouth.
Strangers are attacking me;
ruthless men seek my life —
men without regard for God.
Surely God is my help;
the Lord is the one who sustains me.
Let evil recoil on those who slander me;
in your faithfulness destroy them.
I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you;
I will praise your name, O Lord,
for it is good.
For he has delivered me from all my troubles,
and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.
Fortunately, my friend who is a competitive skier stayed with me in the water and coached me about what to do. She said, "Let the boat pull you up," and "Be strong!" These seemingly contradictory statements made all the difference. I did both - I trusted the boat to do its job, and I hung on with all my strength. The first time the boat took off, I got up and enjoyed a great ride around the lake.
When life has you down - whether through sorrow that seems too hard to bear or circumstances that make each day a morning-to-night grind - my friend's advice can help. First, let God pull you up by His power (Psalm 54:1-4). Then, hold on to His hand. Cling to Him and "be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power" (Ephesians 6:10).
Trust His power and hold on. He will give you the strength to keep from falling (Isaiah 40:31).
- Dave Branon
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50UuHYG-Xxh7fQhZNg4UbIJ5gAKGuRsRlqVFdHwYiID6-6R26Qx9tmZbK7bZ1TGlHBNJf2DVRjwKb_cB4NVsFV9cxgmJjiW7Ujm83nzJC1mklHrAiEQ7SVEWrSeDTht0YhhyphenhyphenTIoW6zall9lAHsYELKV5cF1vguAASJPDjFa4tHOliM3DRRXe-xIbgb6c/s1083/d71b2439541b5edaab9a0893a462da46_11.png
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/d7/1b/24/d71b2439541b5edaab9a0893a462da46.jpg
https://in.pinterest.com/pin/51861833203481759/
Save me, O God, by your name;
vindicate me by your might.
Hear my prayer, O God;
Listen to the words of my mouth.
Strangers are attacking me;
ruthless men seek my life —
men without regard for God.
Surely God is my help;
the Lord is the one who sustains me.
Let evil recoil on those who slander me;
in your faithfulness destroy them.
I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you;
I will praise your name, O Lord,
for it is good.
For he has delivered me from all my troubles,
and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/1d/68/a5/1d68a51126229ee6fc0386e7bfac0c5a.jpg
https://in.pinterest.com/pin/27866091441551350/

PHOTO: I hadn't been water skiing in fifteen years, but when friends offered to take my son-in-law Todd and me out on the lake last summer, how could I say no? It seemed like a good idea until I watched Todd have trouble getting upright on his skis. He had done a lot of skiing, but as he tried to get up on one ski, he kept falling. So when it came to my turn, I didn't have a lot of confidence.
Picture posted by Andrew de Naray on 16 April 2019
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dPdMqOVQOYMs2OwaBF3A0ipibjsVkMkK6Wb0qMikt4PFjpUOQ5tX3KDnR8LsjHUVvf0Z2hXxeHeucAZCtWs0g8-TU16iY1o3tGelmVqbhH8UBXjVKCzQb22rMrl4DQ2Wc2GRkrrE9oePVaLglc6ZYumBpdIGYFJiXrN7onBzFIe9qtU_bU48qsoeeKk/s1024/645e61c151904.image.jpg
https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/denvergazette.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/a2/0a2748e5-8013-5a7a-b84a-e9703bc7f66d/645e61c151904.image.jpg
https://denvergazette.com/outtherecolorado/adventures/7-reasons-why-springtime-in-fruita-is-unlike-anywhere-else-in-colorado/article_3dc78d7d-ccc2-57eb-92c3-d1754917d301.html
Fortunately, my friend who is a competitive skier stayed with me in the water and coached me about what to do. She said, "Let the boat pull you up," and "Be strong!" These seemingly contradictory statements made all the difference. I did both - I trusted the boat to do its job, and I hung on with all my strength. The first time the boat took off, I got up and enjoyed a great ride around the lake.

PHOTO: Fortunately, my friend who is a competitive skier stayed with me in the water and coached me about what to do. She said, "Let the boat pull you up," and "Be strong!" These seemingly contradictory statements made all the difference. I did both - I trusted the boat to do its job, and I hung on with all my strength. The first time the boat took off, I got up and enjoyed a great ride around the lake.
Picture posted by Atlanta Waterski Experience
https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/stock/12859/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:1535,m
https://waterskiatlanta.com/
When life has you down - whether through sorrow that seems too hard to bear or circumstances that make each day a morning-to-night grind - my friend's advice can help. First, let God pull you up by His power (Psalm 54:1-4). Then, hold on to His hand. Cling to Him and "be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power" (Ephesians 6:10).
Picture posted by _stepbackj_ on 02 October 2024
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbom5TeSJLHQW-ew7Ha9hPFRakOhCkmQeIyLaccW2o4zCp8BeL7l-K7Htlv63wDkkWVhTJoRutMRzYtY4lCzkOoEY7DiLo_0iTIRTHHnL57DYcvdov_dEk52W_e1KINdiloV6O9Qd_C33uJSfplmRu0kt7fkP9ixgvf8YmSp4WqmEG4DhlFYJTvs6XtcY/s1800/475058484_18478236760057188_4560505068090553397_n.jpg
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https://www.instagram.com/p/DAlrcuMvUuA/?img_index=1
Trust His power and hold on. He will give you the strength to keep from falling (Isaiah 40:31).
- Dave Branon

PHOTO: Trust His power and hold on. He will give you the strength to keep from falling (Isaiah 40:31).
Picture posted by SlideServe
https://content.slideserve.com/8715249/s5s6147.jpg
https://www.slideserve.com/afrederick/the-day-of-pentecost-powerpoint-ppt-presentation

PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that we trust His power and hold on. He will give you the strength to keep from falling.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
Reflection - Psalm 54 - Get Up!
Source (book): "My Soul Thirsts For God", Reflections on the Psalms from Our Daily Bread, Psalm 54, "Get Up!", Page 80.
By Dave Branon, Our Daily Bread Writer

Reflection - Faithful to the end (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/06/reflection-faithful-to-end-links.html
"Finding rest for the soul" Responding to Jesus' Invitation in Matthew 11:28-29, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/10/reflection-finding-rest-for-soul-links.html
"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-i.html
"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-iv.html
"Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, © 2018 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflection-songs-of-christmas-links.html
"Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, © 2019 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part I - III (Links), posted on Wednesday, 09 December 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part.html

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part IV - V (Links), posted on Thursday, 22 April 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part_9.html
"Teach Us to Number Our Days", © 2008 by David Roper

Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 1 - 40 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 November 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/11/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-1-40.html

Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 41 - 64 (Links), posted on Wednesday, 16 March 2022
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/03/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-41.html
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/08/reflection-he-walks-with-me-links.html
"Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Copyright © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries

Reflection - Classic Gem, Chapter 1 - 45 (Links), posted on 03 April 2023
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2023/04/reflection-classic-gem-chapter-1-45.html
"Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Copyright © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries

Reflection - Classic Gem, Chapter 46 - 90 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 24 October 2023
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2023/10/reflection-classic-gem-chapter-46-90.html
"Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, Copyright @ 2022 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Making All Things New, Chapter 1 - 28 (Links), posted on Saturday, 04 August 2024
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/08/reflection-making-all-things-new.html
"Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, Copyright @ 2022 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Making All Things New, Chapter 29 - 52 (Links), posted on Saturday, 15 March 2025
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/03/reflection-making-all-things-new.html
New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Isaiah 40:31 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040%3A31&version=NIV
Matthew 11:28-29 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+11%3A28-29&version=NIV
Psalm 54:1-4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2054%3A1-4&version=NIV
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- https://denvergazette.com/outtherecolorado/adventures/7-reasons-why-springtime-in-fruita-is-unlike-anywhere-else-in-colorado/article_3dc78d7d-ccc2-57eb-92c3-d1754917d301.html
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