The Man Had Enemies

Psalm 56:1-4
Be merciful to me, my God,
    for my enemies are in hot pursuit;
    all day long they press their attack.
My adversaries pursue me all day long;
    in their pride many are attacking me.

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?

Their target was King David.

The man had many enemies. In the Psalm, he wrote of being chased and pursued by armies. Thwarted on every side. He hid in caves, he ran, but in the end he knew where to find help.

In the midst of this health emergency we are in together—I hear fear. Will I get the virus? Will my loved one get it? Will we ever get to go back to work? Will we survive financially? So many questions, and all good ones. Everyone has been touched by this invisible nemesis.

When I ponder those same questions, I'm tempted to ball up with anxiety.

But I have good news. I've found comfort in the Psalms. As David was chased by his enemies, he recognized his refuge, his safe place, his best place to shelter in place—in the arms of God. Each day as I read a new chapter, I see God peeling away my layers of fear and replacing them with trust. No matter what happens, I trust God to love and comfort me.

Is this easy? No. But I choose to place my hope in God.

Do I fear? Yes. But I trust God more.

Psalm57:1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.

Want a Second Chance?

U.S. Life Saving Station, Marblehead, OH

Psalm 51:10-12

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

He's the God of second chances.

The movie Love Story, starring Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw, hit the big screen in 1970. As the story goes, A wealthy boy meets a middle class girl, they fall in love, boy gets disinherited, they marry, and she becomes terminally ill. Together they navigate this difficult road.  One catchphrase from the movie is still quoted today. "Love means never having to say you're sorry."

Even as a teenager that quote didn't make sense to me. Jesus is the only person who walked this earth without fault. Everyone makes mistakes,even as we strive to be our best selves. God knows we mess up. That's why he sent his son.

In Psalm 51, King David bowed before God and admitted his sins. He knew he needed mercy. And you know what? God was happy to hear from the wayward king. He wanted David to reach out and seek grace.

David understood that only God could renew his repentant heart. David desired God's love. David wanted to have the Holy Spirit renewed in him. That's why he said he was sorry. He sought out the Lord because he knew only the God of second chances could pour joy back into his heart.

If King David had believed the quote about never saying he was sorry, he would never have been forgiven by God. But he knew God loved him with open arms.

Seek God. He wants to give you a second chance.

When the Day Begins

Psalm 143:8-10
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
    for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
    for to you I entrust my life.
Rescue me from my enemies, Lord,
    for I hide myself in you.
Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
    lead me on level ground.

I don't wake up like I did when I was a kid.

I used to bound out of bed in the morning. Now arthritis reminds me, I best not jump at the crack of dawn. Even though my body wakes up with slow twists and turns, my heart leaps with joy. God has allowed me another day. He's gifted me with new experiences. The morning brings me his unfailing love, just as he did for King David.

In Psalm 143, David called on God in the morning to pour out his love. He prayed for help and guidance. He sought protection and direction. Shouldn't we do the same. Our first line of defense or offense requires prayer.

Here's what I learned from David as he sought out God's wisdom.

Ask God to:

• Show me-as I trust in him
• Protect me-as I hide in him
• Teach me-as I do his will
• Lead me-as I follow his Holy Spirit

I love the last part of verse ten. David asks the Lord to lead him to level ground, through the Spirit. On level ground we can plant our feet, with prayer, in the word of God. 

When the day begins, seek God first.

The Heart of the Matter

1 Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

I rummaged through my closet trying to find the best outfit to wear to the Mercy Me concert. Everything I pulled out either looked like work clothes or casual Saturday (different from casual Friday, much more relaxed—maybe even sloppy.) Frustrated, I tried again. I'd decided jeans would be good, but felt discouraged with my choice in shirts. My good friend Bev and I had planned this evening for months, and I wanted to look nice. I finally narrowed it down to two possibilities, then went on with my day.

Coffee in hand, I opened my Bible to the daily reading. As I perused the verses, my foray through my closet seemed pathetic. Here I was preparing what to wear to the concert. When what I should have been doing was preparing my heart to worship and praise God.

As Samuel searched for a future king to replace himself, God reminded him not to look at the outward appearance, instead look at the man's heart. David, who Samuel would later choose to follow him as king, was a man of small stature. Even though he was considered handsome, God wanted to know what was inside, not outside. God looks at the heart, the organ that pumps life into our souls. After I bowed my head and had a heart-to-heart with God, I knew I was ready to receive his blessing and give him glory at the concert. I pray that my heart is ready to worship the Lord every day.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23

A Shepherd and a King

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
    he leads me beside quiet waters,
    he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

I've been reading my way through the Book of Psalm. When I opened to Psalm 23 this week, I paused. I didn't want to read through this familiar chapter too quickly. Instead I focused with a fresh perspective. As I studied the familiar words, I thought about the author, King David, and the stories I've read about him.

David was a shepherd. He understood life lived outdoors, 24/7. No doubt he spent days in the dust and dirt, sweating under the sun, and sleeping under the moon. He chased sheep back to the flock and played his harp. Yet, in this less than glamorous job, he lacked nothing. God went before him and supplied clean water, a comfortable place to lay his head, and refreshment for his soul.

David was a warrior and king. God guided him through the valleys of war. Then when David fell to temptation, wallowed in sin, and journeyed through the darkest of days, God went after him. David beat himself up; his heart ached due to his own mistakes. But through all of his cries for mercy, he eventually heard his Father say, "You're forgiven." He realized that the God of his youth was ushering him back into the fold, just as a shepherd leads his sheep to the flock. He understood that God was not going to desert him. Instead, God led him. David praised God for his constant presence and care.

I love the words that end this passage. "Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." God loves us and wants to give us his grace, just like he did David.

Psalm 23~what a beautiful reminder of hope!

Stand Like a Deer

Psalm 18:30-36
As for God, his way is perfect:
    The Lord’s word is flawless;
    he shields all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the Lord?
    And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
    and keeps my way secure.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
    he causes me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle;
    my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You make your saving help my shield,
    and your right hand sustains me;
    your help has made me great.
You provide a broad path for my feet,
    so that my ankles do not give way.

On my way up the driveway, to the college where I work, a deer stood in the middle of the pavement. I stopped the Jeep and watched her. In slow motion, she sauntered off the drive and headed toward the forest. Just before I pulled away, she seemed to nod at me, then take off at a run. The next day, in the same spot, she stood along the road, while another one sipped water from the pond. We often see wildlife on campus, but I don't think I'd seen the deer two days in a row. But the sightings didn't stop there. The next day, I walked to the Westwood building where the windows look out over the woods. Lo and behold (I say that with amazement) a doe preened her fawn.

Seeing the deer reminded me of the verses King David penned in Psalm 18. Even though the deer in Ohio don't have mountains to climb, mule deer in the Rocky Mountains climb like mountain goats. They're sure-footed and able to make their way up a steep path. David claims that God gave him the balance and ruggedness of a deer, with the ability to take to a path without his ankles giving way. David's words tell me that God equips me to meet my needs. Too often I fear that I don't have the talent I need to complete a task, or the words to write, or the wisdom to understand. I imagine God is probably shaking his head at me, saying "Silly woman, I'm giving you all you need. I always have and I always will." Yes he has, and he will. My unfounded doubts lead me to worry when there is no need.

David, considered a mighty warrior, composed these words before he went to battle. He knew he needed God and God prepared him. We go to war every day against the enemy. Satan creeps around every corner and slings doubt and fear at us. But God has given us the weapons we need to fight him off. Like a deer, I'll climb up the mountain away from Satan and make my way to stand close to Jesus. Praise God he watches out for me.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. Psalm 42:1