Numbering My Days

Tag: salvation

  • Psalm 27

    The LORD is my light
    and my salvation –
    whom should I fear?
    The LORD is the stronghold of my life –
    whom should I dread?

    David had unshakeable confidence and courage based in his Lord – Yahweh.

    Amazing!

    Though surrounded by enemies, hounded by even those he sought to serve, David remained convinced that the Lord, who had protected him in the past, would protect him again today, and in the future.

    I need confidence like that!

    And a memory of what the Lord has done for me to fuel that courage.

    Lord, bring to my mind all the glorious moments you have been my Savior,

    Provider,

    Protector.

    In you I have full confidence that you will guide and protect me – in all the days ahead.

    All the days!

  • Psalm 26

    Test me, LORD, and try me;
    examine my heart and mind.
    For your faithful love guides me,
    and I live by your truth..

    David had amazing confidence in his relationship with the Lord – and must have been diligent in his spiritual life. Amazing: to challenge the Lord to examine him, to test him because he was certain of his integrity before the Lord.

    This must have been “the David” – the man after God’s heart.

    Lord, my confidence is only in Jesus Christ.

    In Him I stand before you and can withstand the scrutiny of your righteous judgment.

    Without Christ I am guilty.

    Full of insecurity.

    I know my heart is not pure.

    My confidence, though, is in Christ!

    In Christ alone, my hope is found.

  • Psalm 25

    Remember, LORD, your compassion
    and your faithful love,
    for they have existed from antiquity.
    Do not remember the sins of my youth
    or my acts of rebellion;
    in keeping with your faithful love,
    remember me
    because of your goodness, LORD.

    This is my prayer: that the Lord would remember His own faithfulness and love, and somehow forget my sin and rebellion.

    I know that God does just that – through Jesus Christ. He is faithful, and He recalls His faithfulness because He is good.

    Not me.

    He doesn’t remember because of my need or deeds, but because of His nature.

    He is faithful.

    He is love.

    He grants mercy for His sake.

  • Psalm 22

    My God, my God, why have you
    abandoned me? . . .
    Their descendants will serve him; . . .
    they will declare what he has done.

    Jesus, on the cross, quoted this Psalm.

    Yes, I think He was alone, abandoned by all – even the Father who could not bear to be in the presence of sin. And He carried all the sin of the world, including mine, to that moment on the cross.

    This Psalm also declares the victory won by the righteous one, the suffering servant. I’m certain this was on Jesus’ mind as He quoted this Psalm.

    And so today, along with generations before me, I will “declare what He has done.”

    Sin and death defeated.

    The grave overcome.

    The good news of a restored relationship with the Father because of the faithful Jesus on the cross.

    My God!

  • Psalm 21

    LORD, the king finds joy
    in your strength.

    The strength and might of the Lord is a delight, a joy for those who trust in, rely on, the Lord.

    The Lord blesses and endows the king – and all who submit to his reign – with “rich blessings.”

    Not so for those who oppose the Lord. Death and damnation await those who defy the Lord and who fight against the Lord’s chosen.

    Lord, make clear to me those you bless, that we might not oppose you and your plan, your will.

    In Christ we trust – He is my eternal King!

  • 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 15

    LORD, who can dwell in your tent?
    Who can live on your holy mountain?

    No one!

    No one is perfectly blameless, righteous.

    No one alway acknowledges the truth.

    No one lives perfectly toward other people – friends or not.

    No one can perfectly live up to the standards that grant access to God’s presence.

    That’s the whole point of the gospel.

    The good news is that God still desires a relationship with us (me!) regardless of our (my) failures. And in His perfect righteousness, He provides The Way.

    Jesus Christ lived that way! Perfect in every regard.

    He stands for us in the judgment and invites us to join Him with the Father.

    Praise Jesus for His salvation.

    (Psalm 18 provides the inspiration for this week’s illustration. This is a slice of an early edition of what became the artwork for Psalm 18.)