Numbering My Days

Author: Bill Craig

  • Psalm 42

    As a deer longs for flowing streams,
    so I long for you, God.
    I thirst for God, the living God.

    Some days.

    Sometimes.

    It just feels like God’s presence is far away.

    I long for it – like a deer looking for a bit of water on a hot, dusty day.

    How may I quench this thirst for the presence of the living God in my life? For the stirring of the Holy Spirit, reviving me again?

    I know – this dry space is a place of my own making. I marched confidently off into this desert, thinking, “I have plenty of God, enough resources, all I’ll ever need.”

    But I find I don’t. I don’t have nearly enough.

    I want God’s living water poured out over me, streaming into my desert.

    Lord, my hope is in you.

    My Savior. My God.

    Note: The above illustration, inspired by this Psalm, v. 7 is where I’ve temporarily halted waterfall illustrations. Although I started another one . . . I may never be satisified with this image. I have something in my mind that I want to convey, just can’t seem to get it to come out right. I’ll keep trying. If I ever get a waterfall that makes me smile – I’ll share it. Meanwhile, “deep calls to deep . . .”

  • Psalm 41

    Happy is one who is considerate
    of the poor;
    The LORD will save him in a day
    of adversity.

    This Psalm seems to have several themes, but at the heart of it is David’s confident trust that God has seen and known him; God has promised him protection and life; God will forgive him in spite of his sin; and, God will bless him.

    All of David’s thoughts return to the foundation of his confidence. God loves him and is faithful to care for and protect him.

    At day’s beginning, or end, this is the solid ground for my life – that God loves,

    forgives,

    sees,

    knows,

    and He is faithful.

    Lord, be to me my secure fortress and peace.

    almost there . . .

  • Psalm 40

    I waited patiently for the LORD,
    and he turned to me and heard my cry
    for help.

    David had deep trust – even when surrounded by enemies, when he was beset with troubles and even sin, he did not abandon his hope in the Lord. Instead he called out to Him, waited expectantly.

    And God heard.

    And responded.

    How often do I give up before the Lord makes His response known to me?

    I do believe He hears.

    I know He responds.

    Sometimes, though, my trust and hope falter, especially when I am aware of my sin which has turned my heart from the Lord.

    Lord, thank you for your mercy and grace that is always there, awaiting this penitent, needy man.

  • Psalm 39

    Now, LORD, what do I wait for?
    My hope is in you.

    In the midst of my enemies, or

    the trials of life, or

    in recognizing the brevity of life –

    and the vanity of wealth

    and the mire of sin with righteous judgment:

    in all these – right at the heart of all them – there is hope.

    I hope in the Lord.

    He guards my steps and makes my path. He sees my sin and both holds me accountable and offers redemption from the deserved end.

    So there is hope . . .

    And in the hope of Christ I wait for the gracious mercy of my Lord to rescue me from self – and the enemy.

    (If you haven’t already, take a few moments to read the entire Psalm 39. It’s a powerful reminder of the hope we may have.)

    On the way to the final image.

  • Psalm 38

    There is no soundness in my body
    because of your indignation;
    there is no health in my bones
    because of my sin.

    I have a handwritten note in my Bible at this point: the effects of sin.

    – Physical illness
    – The weight of guilt – both psychological and spiritual
    – The infection of unrepentant sin
    – Backbreaking weight of grief
    – Weakness in all my body
    – Crushing realization of my own culpability

    I groan in anguish.

    Lord, do not abandon me.

    My only cry!

    My God, do not be far from me!

    Hurry to help me, my Lord, my salvation.

    Only in you, your presence, your forgiveness, mercy, and grace will I be healed.

    Lord, save!

    Another attempt – not what I was looking for. . .

  • Psalm 37

    Take delight in the LORD,
    and he will give you
    your heart’s desires.

    It is tempting to read this verse as a formula for getting wealth, power, fortune, fame – those things many people want and strive for.

    But, read more carefully. Take delight in the Lord.

    Make the Lord your heart’s desire.

    And you will receive your heart’s desire – the Lord!

    And what could be better?

    To be in the presence of the Lord – to know Him and to experience His peace, His security, His wisdom.

    That is wealth!

    Lord, I desire you!

    In Psalm 42 we will encounter the waterfall – this was one of those attempts to capture what my mind’s eye sees. It contributes to the final, but it’s not the final. “Trust the process. . . ”

  • Psalm 36

    An oracle within my heart
    concerning the transgression of the
    wicked person:
    Dread of God has no effect on him.

    The mindset and life-style of the wicked person was a mystery to David.

    I think I understand his perspective. It does seem like some people live with no view of God, eternity, or any moral compass. They live for themselves and have no fear of any reprisal for anything they do to achieve their pleasure, wealth, goals, power.

    You can sleep at night?

    It is a mystery for some of us – still.

    David reminds us in this Psalm that the “wellspring of life” and the light of lights spring from our Lord.

    From Him come all manner of blessings, faithful love, for those who recognize His divine presence and what is His due.

    One last look at the shield, javelin, and spear. This was a favorite image – the idea came quickly, and I only painted one. It met my expectations right away (whether it is any good or not – I like it!)

    And a glimpse ahead to what has become the most challenging illustration I’ve tried. It was a simple idea, sprang to mind quickly – but I’ve painted it over and over and never satisfied.

    Here’s a piece of one of the early versions I discarded as not what I was looking for – although there are some parts of it (like this slice) that I thought was OK. (with a filter applied to soften the colors a bit.)

  • Psalm 35

    LORD, who is like you,
    rescuing the poor from one
    too strong for him.

    David’s look to the Lord for deliverance from his enemies seems, at first glance, to be self-serving, conceited, arrogant. After all, why should God choose to defend him, to destroy his enemies?

    The heart of this, for my benefit, is to realize that David’s relationship with the Lord was real, healthy, faith-filled, and based on the Lord’s character and holiness, not his own.

    So too, his enemies defied righteous, holy God almighty.

    David recognized his deliverance was due to God’s righteousness (v. 24), not his own.

    Last, for me, my enemies include the enemy – Satan – who longs for the destruction of anyone who trusts in Christ.

    Lord, rescue me!

  • Psalm 34

    Taste and see that the LORD is good.
    How happy is the person who
    takes refuge in him!

    Such a delightful invitation.

    We use this mindset with others, especially children, often.

    – Just try a bite.

    – Try it! You’ll like it.

    The Lord invites all to put Him to the test.

    Try Him. You’ll see. He’s good!

    – He provides for those who seek Him.

    – He grants long life for those who do good.

    – He guides us to peace – urges us to pursue it.

    – He watches over us.

    – He removes evil from the earth.

    – He rescues us, especially when we are brokenhearted.

    – He protects.

    – He redeems.

    Taste and see!

    The Lord is good.

  • Psalm 33

    The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
    the plans of his heart from generation
    to generation.

    God, creator and sustainer of all life, worthy of our worship and praise, is always – and always has been – pursuing His plan and purpose for His creation.

    He will not be thwarted.

    He cannot fail.

    He does nothing haphazardly.

    He intends for His creation to be subject to Christ and to Himself.

    There are days, moments, eras even, when this seems ludicrous: God in charge? In charge of this mess?

    But His plan,

    His counsel,

    His purpose will not falter or fail.

    In His time, according to His plan, He will fulfill all He has in mind.

    We put our hope in you, Lord!