Numbering My Days

Tag: security

  • Psalm 60

    Give us aid against the foe,
    for human help is worthless.
    With God we will perform valiantly;
    he will trample our foes.

    In my battle against the enemy, against the tempter who longs to take me down, and keep me down, there is really only one source of reliable help.

    Human help is worthless.

    But aid from above – from my Lord – is what I need to win the battle. With Him I can “perform valiantly.” Yet even so, not I, but Him.
    He leads the charge.

    He deploys the weapon.

    He brings Holy aid.

    He gives the victory.

    He “tramples the foe.”

    Not me.

    Not even when I battle with Him as my aid. For I am nothing without Him.

    He brings aid and He wins the battle, crushing the enemy, restoring my soul.

    Human help is worthless.

    But God! He is the victor who comes to my aid.

  • Psalm 59

    I will keep watch for you,
    my strength,
    because God is my stronghold.

    David’s life under the rule of Saul was far from easy. He was always under the threat of capture and death at the hands of Saul and his servants.

    For what?

    For being God’s chosen one, a man after God’s heart, a man relying on God, seeking to know Him, desiring to do His will.

    And God saw – and when Saul was the opposite of all this, God’s blessings left him, and God favored David.

    David’s recourse was limited – but ultimately powerful. God was David’s stronghold!

    This for me!

    God be my stronghold, protection, and provision when all around me is danger, despair, unrighteousness.

    I trust in you.

    Protect me and be my source of peace and security.

  • Psalm 57

    . . . I take refuge in you.
    I will seek refuge in the shadow
    of your wings
    Until danger passes.

    David saw danger all about him – lions: people whose teeth were spears and arrows; whose tongues were sharp swords.

    All about him was physical danger and the actions and words of people coming against him to destroy him.

    But David knew where safety and security were. He sought refuge in the presence – under the protection of God’s grace, His shadow covering him when danger approached.

    Lord, give me eyes and faith like David. There is danger all about, but there is security, safety, protection in you and in your presence.

    By your grace, Lord:

    cover me

    protect me

    And I will sing with David: “God, be exalted above the heavens, let your glory be over all the earth.”

    A work-in-progress (WIP) glimpse at a portion of the illustration for Psalm 61.

  • Psalm 55

    Cast your burden on the LORD,
    and he will sustain you;
    he will never allow the righteous
    to be shaken.

    Sometimes even our closest friends and allies betray us. They may have been close friends, even worshipped with us, went to war with us. But sometimes even they betray.

    Their words and actions may at once seem wonderful, but they turn out to be nothing but dangerous weapons turned against us.

    There is one and only one upon whom we may forever rely.

    Cast your burdens on the Lord!

    “Come to me all who labor and are weary – heavy burdened.” This is Jesus’ invitation – still today – to lean on Him. To find in Him that place of rest,

    comfort,

    truth,

    sustenance,

    righteousness.

    Cast your burdens, betrayals, disappointments, pain on the Lord!

    He sustains!

  • Psalm 54

    God is my helper;
    the LORD is the sustainer of my life.

    This is such a simple truth – it has become for me a core of my faith, a foundation for my peace and for my daily existence.

    God is my helper.

    He sustains my life.

    This is not hyperbole for me. So often, my life has been in jeopardy. For some reason, whatever He intends, thus far He has sustained my life.

    I don’t know why.

    Not because I deserve anything from Him. It is only by His mercy and grace.

    And the day shall come when my mortal life is done.

    No worries!

    He will sustain me in life eternal.

    I will serve Him.

    To God be the glory!

    The first steps of creating this image. . .

  • Psalm 52

    But I am like a flourishing olive tree
    in the house of God;
    I trust in God’s faithful love
    forever and ever.

    Friends, heroes, celebrities – even family will fail us. They may speak of our good and promise us safety, refuge and comfort.

    But only God is truly faithful. Only in Him do we find certain hope for what He will do to ensure our security, peace – our true comfort.

    Should we trust people?

    Yes – but not be surprised or found reliant on them when they fail – for I will fail too.

    Only God is truly, without doubt, without failure.

    In Him will I trust. He will establish my life and direct my path. In Him will I find life eternal.

  • Psalm 50

    Our God is coming; he will not be silent!

    Yes – as this Psalm promises, I may call on God in a day of trouble and He will rescue me.

    I count on that.

    But is is also true that He comes to judge. And He is not appeased with the insignificant “sacrifice” I make. It is already His and much more besides.

    He has no need of it. And His judgment is made, finding me, “flinging my words behind,” “associating” with the people of this world who have no fear or interest in God almighty.

    I must turn to Him. With thanksgiving for His unfailing mercy, His gracious gifts, and determine to live in a way that honors His presence.

    The heavens proclaim His righteousness!

    So must I.

  • Psalm 43

    Send your light and your truth; let them
    lead me.
    Let them bring me
    to your holy mountain,
    to your dwelling place.

    God’s “light” illumines the path.

    It provides insight and disclosure.

    Light drives out uncertainty, fear, and hesitancy.

    His “truth” guides me, the pilgrim, in the right direction – with righteousness and confidence in the circumstances ahead.

    The light and truth do not ensure an easy journey – or one without risk, peril, pain, or cost. But light and truth do ensure the presence of God, the companionship of Jesus Christ, and hope for eternity.

    That is the destination on a journey lit by His truth – the hope of everlasting joy in His kingdom.

    A portion of this week’s illustration, from Psalm 47.

  • 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 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.