Summer Psalms: Surrounded

~ Barbara ~ 3 Comments

In a warfare context, “surrounded” sounds threatening, but in a social setting, we are comforted when surrounded by friends. That is the same relief we enjoy when we learn that God surrounds us. He protectively encircles us, lovingly enfolds us, and faithfully encloses us in safety.

The news reports much about being surrounded by danger as wars rage around the globe and social wars disturb America. But there is One who surrounds us and protects us. He is before us, behind us, above us, and beneath us—all around us.

Let these verses from the Psalms comfort you:

You go before me and follow me.
    You place your hand of blessing on my head. Psalm 139:5

He will cover you with his feathers.
    He will shelter you with his wings.
    His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Psalm 91:4

I cling to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:8

Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem,
    so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever. Psalm 125:2

Summer Psalms: Security

~ Barbara ~ 3 Comments

Security and safety are opposites of danger and vulnerability. It’s obvious which side of the street we prefer to live on, especially in the midst of today’s unrest. Governments and leaders cannot offer guarantees, neither can commentators or friends, unless… Unless they refer us to assurances from the Bible.

In Psalm 16, David asks God for safety and confesses, “Apart from you I have no good thing.” In essence, he’s saying that apart from God, there is no safe place. Then he makes several confident confessions:

  • “You have assigned me my portion and my cup.” God sees us and has positioned us in time and space to be right here, right now. He knows this is not too much for us. He is with us and rules in our circumstances.
  • “You have made my lot secure.” The NLT says, “You guard all that is mine”—my family, my country, my freedom, my wellbeing, my heart. He’s got this! He’s got us!
  • “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places,” even when bombs fall, politics fail, and confidence flees. Any place with the Lord is a pleasant place.
  • “I will praise the Lord… I will not be shaken… I will rest secure… You will not abandon me.”

David’s declarations can be ours. We find rest in God when we decide to trust Him.

David didn’t know Luke, who authored the book of Acts, but the words of Psalm 16 and those in Acts resonate with faith in God’s sovereignty.

From one man He made all the nations,
that they should inhabit the whole earth;
and He marked out their appointed times in history
and the boundaries of their lands.
Acts 17:26

May both writers bring peace to our hearts.

Image by Yuyi from Pixabay

Summer Psalms: Strength

~ Barbara ~ 3 Comments

No one chooses to be weak, not physically, emotionally, or spiritually. We respect and desire strength, but do we choose to be strong? Notice that I didn’t ask if we want to be strong, but if we choose to be. Most of us want to be improved, set free, and victorious, but are we willing to do the work? Will we wait for a magic wand to change us, or make choices that strengthen us?

Psalm 1 offers us options that will increase our strength:

  • Don’t listen to sin-soaked people, or keep their company, or join in their mocking.
  • Do delight in God’s Word and ways, and consider His truth day and night.

Solid choices deliver everything we could hope for:

  • Secure footing, like a tree that’s firmly planted,
  • Fruitful lives that affirm our reason for living,
  • A thriving life, not one that withers with weakness.

Be strong. Choose the happy, holy life God intends for you.

He will watch over you as you walk this path, and He will bless you.

More about Joy

~ Barbara ~ 7 Comments

Meet David. He is our 46-year-old son, our fourth child. David has many limitations, the chief ones are his inability to speak and his intellectual simplicity. But he has many assets, such as faith, a worshiping heart, and JOY. He is the happiest person I know.

There is no problem or distress too big for God, so David prays. About everything. And then he walks away with joy because God’s got this. You may have skimmed over the words “about everything.” That is not an exaggeration.  

On our way to church Sunday morning, we saw two police cars with flashing lights. One officer was headed to the back of the house, the other to the front door. Prayer is as natural as breathing for David. He folded his hands to signify that we needed to pray. We prayed for the people who had a problem, for wisdom for the police, for safety for all involved. Amen.

No, not amen. This was not enough for David. He signed “Jesus.” The prayer wasn’t over until we asked that everyone involved would know Jesus. David’s faith was activated, and his joy was complete. Amen.

So I ask, could I be the deficient person? Me, with my great understanding, who can stress over media reports, or personal bad news that drains my joy? It’s certainly not David. His simple prayers are enough for any stressful situation because he lives Nehemiah 8:10:

“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”