Numbering My Days

Tag: daily

  • Psalm 18

    The LORD is my rock,
    my fortress, and my deliverer,
    my God, my rock where I seek refuge,
    my shield and the horn of my salvation,
    my stronghold.

    This is a rich Psalm, full of imagery to write about, to consider illustrating – more importantly, to understand as a way to view and recognize God, especially in times of danger, insecurity, or fear.

    The Lord is my place of refuge.

    He isn’t just“like” a rock,

    “like” a fortress,

    “like” a stronghold.

    He is those things.

    A firm immovable foundation of solid rock;

    a deliverer when I am pursued;

    a shield from the blast of sin and torment;

    salvation – strong salvation when I am astray.

    He is my stronghold. My secure, impenetrable place of rest and security.

  • Psalm 17

    Display the wonders
    of your faithful love,
    Savior of all who seek refuge
    from those who rebel
    against your right hand.

    Sooner or later most of us face opposition – and we (I), should expect that might come from people who oppose the faith I have, from those who would prefer to think there is no mighty God who rules the universe.

    But, you Lord, can display your faithful love (chesed)
    that saves us,
    that protects us,
    that provides for us,
    that becomes our shield against those who oppose us when we stand for you.

    Lord, I trust in you. I rely completely on your protection and provision.

    I will make you known throughout the earth!

    (a similar portion of the illustration for Psalm 18 – reflects the safe refuge of this Psalm as well.)

  • Psalm 16

    The boundary lines have fallen for me
    in pleasant places;
    indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

    This Psalm begins with the recognition that God is my refuge, and “I have nothing good besides you.”

    My inheritance is the place of refuge where I find in the Lord. A beautiful place, the boundaries of which are set to hem me in with His protection, love, and provision.

    And this is not a prison place – restrictive or restricting my life and forcing me to dwell herein. No meager accommodations or a lack of beauty and joy here.

    No! This place is a lovely spot of pleasure.

    The presence of the Lord is a wide open plain. A bright sunny expanse of beach. Mountaintops as far as the eyes can see.

    A pleasant place.

    Thank you Lord for your provision.

    Your presence is a beautiful, wonderful place to be.

  • Psalm 14

    The fool says in his heart,
    “There’s no God.”

    The Psalmist’s clarity and honesty here are amazing.

    He’s right, of course. No one “does good.” “All have become corrupt.”

    This is the influence, the result of sin on everyone.

    No one can stand up as righteous before almighty God.

    No one.

    Except Jesus.

    The Psalmist pleads for deliverance to come.

    He has come!

    Jesus is the righteousness of God, made man that, through Him, all who trust in Him may stand right before God. Not on their own merit – but on His sacrifice.

    The fool refuses to see, hear, or know God through Christ.

    Praise God for His mercy that draws us to Him through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.

    One last image reminding me of the truth of Psalm 8.

  • Psalm 13

    But I have trusted in your faithful love;
    my heart will rejoice in
    your deliverance.

    Sometimes I feel a distance between me and God. No doubt, my fault. He doesn’t go anywhere – He is unchanged, unchangeable.

    It’s me that has neglected Him.

    Forgotten to pray.

    Wandered – or marched – into sin.

    Seeking my own agenda, plan, pleasure.

    Whatever.

    But when I turn to find the Lord, distance is there rather than His presence. I feel discouraged. Alone. Guilty. Shamed.

    I wonder: how long will I be in this mess?

    But the Lord has not forgotten. Not been idle.

    I have trusted in Him and will continue to trust until I find joy once again in Him.

    Lord,deliver me so that I may know the joy of my heart – you!

  • Psalm 12

    The wicked prowl all around,
    and what is worthless is exalted
    by the human race.

    The Psalm begins, “No one faithful remains,” and progresses to, “Because of the devastation of the needy, and the groaning of the poor.”

    When there are vulnerable people to be preyed on, the “wicked” prowl around to take advantage. And it seems, at times, that they can do this without any recourse. They even say, “who can be our master?”

    Lord, you are master of all, whether they recognize it or not.

    I call on you, Lord, for help, because I know you are faithful even when no one else is.

    Lord: protect, provide, redeem us! Protect us from this generation, even as you have protected in the past.

    (Another attempt at Psalm 8. I tried several different ideas . . . Sarah told me this worshipper looked like they were being held up 🙂 )

  • Psalm 11

    When the foundations are destroyed,
    What can the righteous do?

    The toll of the wicked on the earth around us – on people, communities, nations, even nature – is immense and destructive.

    The wicked, in their interest to satisfy themselves, and to wreak havoc on the righteous, have damaged even the foundations. The foundations of community, of the churches, of the towns and nations, of the physical world.

    What are the righteous to do?

    Take refuge in the Lord!

    There is no place to run and hide, so the best, really only place of refuge, is in the Lord. Trusting that He holds us today and in the future.

    My refuge in chaos: The Lord!

  • Psalm 10

    LORD, why do you stand
    so far away?
    Why do you hide in times of trouble?

    How honest we can be with the Lord!

    I was reflecting on this question just this morning, in light of recent tragedy. Why does it seem like the Lord isn’t involved, doesn’t care?

    This Psalm asks this question because of the wicked who torment the weak and vulnerable in society without consequence, it seems. And they do it assuring themselves there are no consequences because they believe there is no God.

    The promise of this Psalm, both for interpersonal relationships and the tragedies of natural disaster (or so it seems to me): God will intervene on behalf of those who are weak, helpless, vulnerable.

    God sees.

    He cares.

    He will act.

    He has His own timetable, his own agenda.

    And, of course, sin is having its way, destructive to all – while we await, with faith, the day!

    (An earlier version of the illustration for Psalm 8.)

  • Psalm 9

    Those who know your name
    trust in you
    because you have not abandoned
    those who seek you, LORD.

    This is the mercy, grace, and love of God.

    That He has not, will not, does not abandon those who seek Him.

    At some point in our lives we find ourselves apart from God – perhaps far from God. But we desire to know Him, and we seek.

    Even before we find Him, He does not abandon us. He is on the lookout for those who look for Him.

    And, Praise the Lord! Even after we find Him, He continues to secure us in His tender care as we seek to know Him more.

    Marvelous mercy! That God sees us seeking long before we see Him.

  • Psalm 8

    When I observe your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars,
    which you set in place,
    what is a human being
    that you remember him?

    The world and the universe in which it is set, are utterly awe-inspiring,

    amazing,

    beautiful,

    majestic –

    unbelievable at times.

    What an incredible thing: to be able to see, hear, smell, taste, move through this glorious world.

    Then to realize that God, creator, sustainer of life – majestic Himself, beyond the glory of His creation – that God has also created humans, and cares for us!

    What depths of love.

    Heights of mercy.

    That Creator God cares at all for any of us, let alone each of us.

    O LORD, our Lord,
    How majestic is your name!