"The Lord Has Been Mindful of Me" Psalm 115:12 (Songs: Does Jesus Care?; No One Cares For Me Like Jesus; The Lord Has Been Mindful of Me). I. Introduction. A. Have you ever felt that no one cares? B. Have you ever believed you were the only one wanting to do what is right? C. One is not alone when it appears everything is working against him/her. D. Through all the sorrows, heartaches, disappointments, etc.--there is someone who cares for me and for you. 1. In our human fallibilities, we make mistakes, hurt others, and injure hearts. 2. Yet--there is hope when we trust in the Creator of all life. E. The Psalmist believed: Psalm 115:12. II. Body. The Lord has been mindful of.... A. Each of us and he will bless us: Psalm 115:12-16. 1. The words express it: a. God's people. b. Those that fear Jehovah. c. Small and great. d. You and your children. e. Earth to men(consider the source of food, shelter and raiment). 2. The great words of the other Psalms also express how God has been mindful of us. a. Even when others are not. b. Or--the world does not care. B. Job in his tribulations. 1. Satan had challenged Job's integrity and faith. 2. But--the Lord knew Job and how he would not lose his faith. 3. Satan was able to take his family, his wealth, and his health(even his friends turned against him). 4. Then--his wife--in sorrow or in pity, said: Job 2:9. 5. Job knew God still cared for him: Job 1:21-22; 2:10. 5. The result: Job 42:10. C. Joseph when he was mistreated and sold into slavery. 1. Not a victim of enemies or strangers: his own brethren sold him to slave traders. a. Father deceived: Jacob believed he was dead. b. Brothers wanted to profit from their ungodliness: Genesis 37:26-27. 2. In Egypt, Jehovah did not forget Joseph; nor did Joseph forget God: Genesis 39:2. 3. Joseph continued to know that God was with him: a. When one tried to seduce him: Genesis 39:9. b. When one forgot his promise: Genesis 40:23. 4. Joseph's end: Genesis 50:22-26. D. Elijah when he felt alone. 1. The despondency: I Kings 19:10. a. Ever felt like him? b. Even to: I Kings 19:14. 2. The people had followed Ahab and Jezebel; they worshipped Baal. a. Elijah showed his allegiance in the challenge to the false prophets. b. Ahab said he was a troublemaker: I Kings 18:17. c. Jehovah was mindful when he consumed the offering and had the prophets of Baal slain. d. In the end, Elijah did not see death: II Kings 2:11-12.(The Lord did take him!) E. The little children of His day: Mark 10:13-16. 1. Perhaps disciples considered this not a worthy task. a. God's standards do not always match the standards of men. b. All tasks in God's service and kingdom are great. 2. The Lord is mindful of whether we have the nature and receptiveness of a little child(capacity to forgive and forget). 3. Children are the future: we must be mindful of them. a. Present a righteous example. b. Teach them respect for things holy. c. Encourage them, love them, pray for them, and help them. F. Our failures, mistakes, and sins. 1. Isaiah tells of ones who had "not been mindful" of God: Isaiah 17:10. a. This was for Damascus: among other burdens of foreign nations. b. The record of the Old Testament is abundant in examples of those who did not obey the Lord. 2. The Lord is conscious of our own shortcomings, even if men are not. a. I John 3:7-8a(then 8b). b. Hence: I John 3:18. 3. He cared enough to send the best: His Son. III. Conclusion. A. Whatever we have done, whatever we have failed to do and whatever we may do in the future, the Lord is mindful of us: Psalm 115:12. B. Are we mindful of Jehovah?-James L. Yopp