Numbering My Days

Tag: security

  • Psalm 94

    LORD, how long will the wicked –
    how long will the wicked celebrate?

    There is, and will be, a season in which the “wicked celebrate.” Injustice will be the normal course of business and government. Innocents will be harmed. Those who are vulnerable, killed, murdered by those in power.

    And those who look on with horror will wonder: how long?

    Doesn’t God see this? Will He not do something?

    “The Lord knows . . . “(v. 11). He isn’t missing what is happening, He will execute His righteous judgment.

    That is little consolation for people who are harmed by the wicked today. But, there is a place of refuge.

    The Lord is my refuge.

    My God is the rock of my protection.

    What we see today, experience in this life, is temporary and ultimately inconsequential.

    The Lord reigns.

    He rules.

    He will vindicate.

    Come, Lord Jesus!

  • Psalm 93

    LORD, your testimonies
    are completely reliable;
    holiness adorns your house
    for all the days to come.

    Who knows what is true anymore?

    Sometimes I can’t – shouldn’t – believe my own eyes and ears.

    AI and the evil imaginations and machinations of men (people) make what is visible and what is aural irrelevant and unbelievable.

    But God’s testimonies are reliable.

    His Word , His acts, His movement through this world – that is what I can – will – trust.

    Why?

    Because He is Holy and His presence, His residence is Holy. It is completely unique. There is nothing like it and it cannot be imitated or duplicated.

    Lord, you are Holy.

    Your Word is Holy.

    Your acts and your presence are Holy.

    Praise God! In your holiness: redeem us!

  • Psalm 92

    The righteous thrive . . .
    Planted in the house of the LORD, . . .
    They will still bear fruit in old age, . . .
    to declare, “The LORD is just;
    he is my rock,
    and there is no unrighteousness
    in him.

    There is a place where age does not matter. There is a place where I can thrive, if I am in right relationship with God the Father – righteous.

    (I can’t achieve that on my own, but my loving heavenly Father has provided a way for me through Jesus.)

    And, so, in Jesus I am in the presence, the house of the Lord.

    In His courts.

    Enjoying His environment that quickens me to fruitful life no matter my age.

    He makes use of us when we are His and in His courts.

    The Lord is just! He is my Rock. He is Holy – there is no unrighteousness in Him.

    To God be the glory.

    It’s good to be in His house.

  • Psalm 91

    The one who lives
    under the protection
    of the most high
    dwells in the shadow of the Almighty.

    In God’s presence, under His almighty protection, is security. Real refuge. It is in “my God whom I trust.”

    • Rescue from the traps that ensnare.
    • Cover under his wings – warmth and safety.
    • Shield from the dangers around me.
    • Security when I am terrified –
      when the arrows fly.
    • Protection from plague and death even when thousands are falling around me.

    Why?

    Because I dwell in Him.

    He is my refuge.

    He surrounds me with His servants who are working and diligent to protect.

    Lord, be my refuge.

    I rely on, rest in, find security in you, and you alone.

    (An early, not so great attempt, at the palm in Psalm 92. This one proved to be quite a process!)

  • Psalm 81

    I am the LORD your God,
    Who brought you up from the land
    of Egypt.
    Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

    God longs for the relationship with us that He established.

    A unique, one-God only relationship.

    He longs for us to worship Him, and Him alone; to forsake all other gods and influences as the false gods, images, forces they are. And in the unique relationship with God almighty, in a posture of complete dependence on Him, He will meet every need, longing, and hunger that we have.

    Lord, I long for you, and you alone, to fill up my longing.

    Be for me the source, the supply of spiritual food that others may falsely offer, but only you have,

    Lord, I sing to you, for you are my strength, joy, hope, life!

    Praise God almighty.

  • Psalm 73

    . . . it seemed hopeless
    until I entered God’s sanctuary.
    Then I understood their destiny.

    I completely understand (or maybe more accurately, I relate with deep affinity) the Psalmist’s struggle and perspective in this Psalm.

    I know I must declare God’s goodness and I must hold onto His faithfulness. He is the LORD, the creator, the sustainer, the judge, the redeemer.

    But sometimes, life seems wonky. The people who seem to love and obey Him least, appear to “have it all.” And those who trust the Lord, who rely on Him – suffer.

    Why?

    Well, in worship I glimpse a part of the answer. The destiny of those who do not trust God is as sure as the salvation of those who do trust Him. Eternity – life with Him – not any material, temporal, life now is what matters.

    In Him we are secure – forever.

    Praise God!

    (Another step forward . . . )

  • Psalm 68

    God arises. His enemies scatter, . . .
    God in his holy dwelling is
    a father of the fatherless
    and a champion of widows.

    Lord, God Almighty, this Psalm recalls and highlights all the ways you are powerful.

    Creator of life.

    Sustainer.

    Restorer.

    Conqueror.

    Savior.

    And I see how you’ve chosen to apply your majesty and power. You are “father to the fatherless.” “Champion of widows.”

    Lord, you use your power, your might, your majesty on behalf of the most vulnerable. And the world sees it, and rejoices.

    Your enemies – those who love war who take advantage of the vulnerable – they can’t stand in your presence.

    They melt away.

    Praise God in the sanctuary!

  • Psalm 64

    The righteous one rejoices in the LORD
    and takes refuge in him;
    All those who are upright in heart
    will offer praise.

    There are people who are aligned with God – who desire to be righteous before Him, to be upright in heart; they desire that their motives and actions will honor and bring praise to the Lord.

    David longed for that.

    But he also realized that there are people whose very existence is centered on the destruction of those seeking to follow the Lord. They lay traps for them, scheme against them.

    I believe that is true today. The enemy, Satan, is still scheming, longing to entrap those who would follow Christ, seek to know Him, desire His righteousness.

    Satan longs to destroy that.

    But my Lord is a refuge when I am threatened, a protector when I am pursued.

    Praise God for His righteousness.

    This week’s image is from Psalm 65. This is NOT the final illustration, but an early version that I wasn’t too pleased with – but it gave me direction for the final (we’ll share that tomorrow.)

  • Psalm 63

    My lips will glorify you
    because your faithful love is better
    than life.

    It is easy to start with the second phrase in this verse – it’s so true. So glorious. God’s faithful love (chesed) is better than life.

    Best thing. Bar none. In this world, in my life, for my life: God’s faithful love.

    If He is the one faithfully loving, well, I am truly loved, truly cared for, never abandoned, betrayed, in need, lonely – God loves me.

    My response?

    Too often I keep all His faithful love to myself as if I share it and somehow lose it, or it is diminished.

    But David had it right. And I must get this right: My lips shall glorify God.

    I will make his faithful love known far and wide.

    He is glorious and He loves us.

    God almighty, creator, sustainer – our lover.

  • Psalm 62

    I am at rest in God alone;
    my salvation comes from Him.

    We (I) should return to this Psalm often. It is so clearly true and plainly understood.

    There is only one source of security, rest, blessing, and well-being in life. God almighty.

    • Rock
    • Fortress
    • Stronghold
    • My salvation!

    My hope comes only from Him. My salvation depends on Him. (Thank God it doesn’t depend on me or anyone other than Jesus, my Lord!)

    All of life is nothing but vapor – an illusion – and even wealth cannot be depended on.

    I will, I do, place my trust, my hope, my future, my security in Him alone.

    He is my rock and my salvation.