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Mom’s flowers — photo by David Kitz
Under the Protection of God Most High
09 Saturday Jul 2016
Posted in Psalms, Saturday's Psalm
Tag Archives: protection
Wake Up Refreshed
31 Tuesday May 2016
Posted in Psalms, Tuesday's Truth
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I sleep and wake up refreshed because you, LORD, protect me (Psalm 3:5, CEV).
Fireplace chimney—photo courtesy of Karen Kitz
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is sleep.
Did you get a good night’s sleep? I hope so. Sleep is essential for our health and well being. God designed us that way and when we don’t get the required amount of sleep our body protests. Ultimately a tired body is an unproductive body.
Worry and various forms of stress rob us of the sleep we need. But in today’s verse from the Psalms David makes this observation:
I sleep and wake up refreshed because you, LORD, protect me (Psalm 3:5, CEV).
David wrote these words when he was fleeing for his life from his son Absalom. Here he was in the midst of a huge disaster. His son had conspired against him and forced him to flee from Jerusalem. Yet despite the incredible stress King David was under, he slept well. He had committed his life to the LORD, so David could sleep in peace and awake refreshed.
You and I need quiet confidence in the LORD that can bring us through times of stress.
Response: LORD God, grant me confident faith that you will help and protect me during stressful times. My help comes from you. Thank you for the gift of refreshing sleep. Amen.
Your Turn: Do you sometimes have trouble sleeping? What works for you?
Healing Forgiveness
17 Thursday Mar 2016
Posted in Psalms, Thursday's Thought
Tags
forgiveness, healing, James, Jesus, protection, Psalms, sick, the LORD, therapeutic
The LORD forgives our sins,
heals us when we are sick, and protects us from death (Psalm 103:3-4, CEV).
River of Healing — Photo courtesy of Donald Adam
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is forgiveness.
Jesus taught us to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Our forgiving Lord expects us to be forgiving toward others—to pass on the forgiveness we have freely received from Him.
There is something deeply therapeutic about forgiveness. We can see that in today’s verse from the Psalms:
The LORD forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick, and protects us from death (Psalm 103:3-4, CEV).
Forgiveness and healing are linked. James, the brother of our Lord, writes, “If you have sinned, you should tell each other what you have done. Then you can pray for one another and be healed. The prayer of an innocent person is powerful, and it can help a lot” (James 5:16, CEV).
Forgiveness is the Lord’s prescription for ailments of body, soul and spirit.
Response: LORD God, I need your forgiveness, healing and protection. Help me start on the road to healing by forgiving those who have wounded my spirit. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Your Turn: Have you received forgiveness and healing through Christ?
In the Shadow of your Wings
28 Thursday Jan 2016
Posted in Psalms, Thursday's Thought
Tags
God, mercy, protection, shelter, wings
God Most High, have pity on me! Have mercy. I run to you for safety. In the shadow of your wings, I seek protection till danger dies down (Psalm 57:1, CEV).
Clematis – photo by David Kitz
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is mercy.
Does God have wings? You might think so based on this verse from the Psalms.
In our attempts to picture God we often give Him anthropomorphic qualities. In simple terms that means we turn Him into a human. The truth is God is a spirit and any attempt to ‘picture’ Him will be grossly inadequate at best, and at worst idolatrous.
Nonetheless, Jesus reminds us that he is eager and willing to shelter us: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem! Your people have killed the prophets and have stoned the messengers who were sent to you. I have often wanted to gather your people, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you wouldn’t let me” (Luke 13:34, CEV).
God in the person of Jesus is willing and eager to show us mercy, if we will just come to Him. Take time to come to Him today.
Response: LORD God, I need your mercy. I set my pride aside and ask for your help. Keep me safe from all forms of harm in the shadow of your wings. Amen.
Your Turn: Has God been your shelter in the storms of life?
I love the Psalms 