Psalms 91 - The Lord Has Us Day 5

Week 1 - Psalms 91 - The Lord Has Us

Day 5 – Psalms 91 review

Read Full Chapter of Psalms 91 again
Read Psalms 91:11- 12 again
Read Matthew 4:5-6
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in ...their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
As we conclude our time in Psalms 91, I am drawn to verses11-12 again. These verses are extremely significant to us, especially when we feel we are walking a path that no one can possibly understand. Sometimes the hardest thing about the journey we’re on, is how alone we feel on it. Satan has a way in his attacks t make us feel isolated and detached. The more withdrawn we become in our struggles, the more he must feel he is gaining the upper hand. He too knows the scriptures. He knows the power that is promised us in Matthew 18:20 that states, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Satan knows when even just two of us gather, whether for worship, for prayer, for scripture study… God is with us and he knows that is instant defeat for himself. Therefore, he tries to draw us out into isolation through his attacks and temptations. And some days it feels like he has achieved his goal, does it not? But when we read again, the hope that is promised each of us that love God in Psalms 91, we realize no matter how alone we feel, God is with us. The last verses of Psalms 91 are actually prophetic. They are promising hope to us for all that should come our way. God is telling us what he will do. Not what He has done, but what He will do. That’s very exciting! But, we are flesh and it’s hard to hold to that when we are on a painful, isolating path. I often think of Job, one of my biblical heroes. How alone he must have felt when even his wife told him to curse God and die. His friends assumed he had somehow caused his suffering. His children were dead. His wealth was gone. His physical body was suffering. He was genuinely all alone. Yet, being the righteous man he was, He held on to God. And God did what He said he would do. He stayed with him in his time of trouble and ultimately, He rescued him. But even better than the example of Job, the verses I highlighted from Psalms 91:11-12, hold deep value for us when we are stranded in our personal dessert. Why? Because these are the very verses Satan used against Jesus Christ the second time he tempted. He quoted these very verses in Matthew 4:5-6 to Jesus Himself. He was challenging Jesus to jump off the temple so that he was in a situation that only God could save and then quoted the scripture of what God has promised. Satan knew the scriptures! Jesus, like us, experienced the taunting of the enemy, even using the very word of His father. Like us, Jesus felt the very same experiences of Satan trying to draw Him out and almost pit Him against God’s word. Jesus knew better and responded that we are not to test God, but to trust God. He didn’t fall into the trap of twisted lies. He knew God’s word was true. He didn’t have to see it or show it to be true… He had to trust it. As we conclude our time in Psalms 91, we must remember to respond like Jesus. These words of Psalms are given to us as assurances. In whatever we face, without even seeing the way that God WILL rescue us when we call to Him in our love for Him, we just have to know that no matter how it seems, God will. We are not alone. We are not defeated. God will. That’s it. Nothing more, nothing less. God WILL! Who will share of a time God has? Who is waiting knowing He will?

Psalms 91 - The Lord Has Us Day 4

Week 1 - Psalms 91 - The Lord Has Us

Day 4: Psalms 91:14-16
14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation. ”
...
Ever feel like a tiny ant trying to make your way through this world in a sea of other ants? Ever feel like at any moment someone could just stomp on you suddenly and no one would really even notice when they did? Honestly, I and ants have a love/hate relationship. I am intrigued by them and I despise them. They are the coolest things to watch: The continual work ethic; the ability to navigate all obstacles and never lose focus; the dedication to always return back to their queen with their find of the day. It’s quite fascinating to me, really. But let one of those boogers get on me and I instantly stop caring about their great qualities and I suddenly only care about one thing… they sting, it burns like crazy, and I swell. Those tiny little creatures can produce a powerful little punch! But, when I am not in immediate fear of their sting, I find myself drawn to them, and in some ways, motivated and inspired by them. Today, they were immediately what came to my mind today as I read these verses and worked through some personal feelings. Sometimes I really do feel like I am lost in a sea of other ants, just trying to make my way. And the harder the struggle, the more I can feel like one of those ants trying to carry something of value home against all odds, but fully expecting the shoe to drop on me, so to speak. But in God’s perfect grace, He gives these verses for me to look deeply into today, so as to soothe me as only He can. Verse 14, “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges me name.” I am not just another ant to God. He knows us individually and His desire is to rescue us as often as we should need. And those of us that know God will set our love on Him in a way that we will be drawn into Him, where that rescue and protection can be found. God will do His part, but we have responsibility as well. We must look beyond our circumstances at hand and we must pray and pray and pray. It’s not about what we pray, it’s the process of seeking God with a heart of love, even in our darkest hour of need, shame, anger, or most difficult of all, complacency. We must call out and then God will deliver us, one way or another. And in that we can know, that God will not allow our trials one day longer than what is good for us, and even better for His glory. Somehow, that makes me better today. I am an ant in a sea of ants in a hard, cold world, but to my Father, I am His most beautiful treasure. However long I shall live, I will cling to the truth that whatever it is that comes my way both good or bad, God, because I love him and call out to His name, will show me salvation and satisfaction as long as I have breath. What is stomping on you today? What have you found to be the way you find satisfaction in God?

Psalms 91 - The Lord Has Us - Day 3

Ties Of Grace Daily Devotions

Week 1: Psalms 91--- The Lord Has Us!

Day 3:  Psalms 91:9-13

⁹ If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰ no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

Today is the 4^th of July, Independence Day for America.  It is a day that I honor deeply because I was raised to appreciate the freedoms in my life by my Daddy, who served in the time of the Vietnam War.  He served our country at a time when Soldiers were spit upon and cursed.  People lost respect for the men in uniform.  But my Dad wore his uniform proud and served his country as best he could.  He carried that with him beyond his military career for it is in his bones.  He is a proud, grateful American and he accepted nothing less from me.  I learned very young to honor the flag and the people that fought for it.  To this day, I can hardly keep from crying when I sing the National Anthem and salute the flag. I am even more emotional when I see the pictures of our military in the midst of their service or of their precious homecomings.    I fly a flag daily at my home and I remember as often as I see it, my freedom came with a cost. So I find it not by coincidence that this day is the day God would have me write about the above verses!  I get chills at the reality that God commands His angels concerning me.  I realize that as much as I cherish our men and women in uniform, fighting for my freedoms, even more am I blessed by the Most High, my Father in Heaven, who is COMMANDING an ARMY of ANGELS on my behalf.  Should we be able to see with our eyes, our heavenly protection, the way we see our American Soldiers, I think we would not be able to move.  Our freedom today in America owes a great deal of debt to our Soldiers.  But our spiritual freedom’s debt has already been paid and we have an eternal army of Angels that absolutely guard us in all of our ways!  They LIFT US UP IN THEIR HANDS!  Because of God’s great love, they will keep us from striking even one foot on a stone! Can any of us really comprehend the promise that is given in these verses?  We have our own personal army, protecting and guarding all of our ways!  We will have victory because we are HIS!  I admit some days, I am wondering if God forgot to send them.  I can sure feel beat down and defeated.  I feel the enemy so close that I can almost sense his hot, horrid breath on my neck, seething hate towards my very being.  But when I feel most defeated, when again I call out to my Jesus, I always realize, I am in trouble, but He is WITH me.  Hold on.  Victory is already won!  Hold on.  So today, with the heat of hate trying to attack our country, our families, our personal lives, I choose to trust, that just as I have never been to war to actually see our brave men and women fight for my freedom and the freedom of others and yet know that it is real, the same remains even more true of the Heavenly Host COMMANDED by the ultimate Commander, to guard ALL of my ways.  Today, I am most grateful that I am not alone, even when I feel alone in my earthly struggles.  What are you most grateful for today?

Psalms 91 - The Lord Has Us - Day 2

Ties Of Grace Daily Devotions

Week 1:  Psalms 91 ---   The Lord Has Us!

Day 2:  Psalms 91:2-8

Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
⁸ You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

Read those verses again.  In all honesty, who really believes that nothing harmful will come near if we trust in God?  You know the kind of belief that removes fear?  I think in our raw, human flesh, fear is one of the most difficult areas of weakness to conquer.  God gave us our emotions.  They run through us strong.  And fear seems to be the mother of all emotions to overcome.  All of us have something that is our weak point. Some are afraid of being alone.  Some are afraid of illness.  Some are afraid about their children.  Each of us has something that grips our flesh and holds on with vengeance.  And then I don’t know about everyone else, but sometimes I feel like the punishment of the wicked never comes.  It’s easy in our flesh to feel like these verses hold some empty promises in our own lives. Maybe they ring true for others, but for personal proof, we may struggle a bit.  But when I dig down into these verses and really dwell on them and in their assurances, God begins to open my memory bank.  I find myself looking back at my alters of remembrance God has given me and asked me to never forget. When I begin to look back at where I have been with God, the whole view changes. Suddenly, I remember and I know the promises are true because there have been many times in my life where on my own accord, I would have been snatched up and away by the fowler’s snare!  My own sinful choices alone would have doomed me, not to mention the strategic attacks from the enemy in so many ways, hitting right at my most fearful points.  When I look back, I know without a doubt, these verses are true, for Satan has not won.  His aggression has been thick, but he has never found victory.  I have been saved!  I have been saved from myself and from the fowler’s snare.  By seeking refuge in the Most High, I am protected from the temptations of Satan and I am guarded beyond what I can comprehend from danger.  I may not feel it when the fire is all around me, but I can know, from where I have already come, that no matter what tricks Satan tries to play on my mind, my heart knows and hears of the truth.  I am like a baby bird under my Father’s massive wings.  I read an article once about a forest fire.  A fireman found a bird charred and stiff on the ground. He found it so strange as a bird could fly to freedom.  When he tapped the bird with a large stick, little baby birds came running out.  That bird had hovered low and taken the fire so that those baby birds, too small to fly, would survive.  What a beautiful testament to how it is with our Father.  And because I have hovered under His wings, because I am now, it is true that I am desperate to share of Him with all that I can.  It is just too dangerous without Him.  The enemy is near and ready to snatch us into his lowly snare.  But God is mighty and our refuge.  I am running to Him.  What about you?  What is keeping you fully from Him?  Is it doubt? Anger? Fear itself?  Ask yourself, is being outside of God’s wings of refuge really worth the risk?  Why not run to Him…. Whether for the first time or again?  He is waiting!  Are you running?

Psalms 91 - The Lord Has Us - Day 1

Ties Of Grace Daily Devotions

Week 1:  Psalms 91 ---   The Lord Has Us!

Day 1: 

Psalms 91:1-2  Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.^{[a] 2} I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

When I think of my childhood,  I think of warmth and safety.  When I was home, under the roof of my parents I felt safe. When I knew they were sleeping down the hall, I rested easily. And then I left for college and eventually had an apartment all to myself.  Suddenly, I wasn’t under that safe protection of knowing my mom and dad were just down the hall.  I was alone.  What a drastic change in feelings.  There were nights I would hear noises and I would think, “If only my daddy were just down the hall!”  (My mom meant well, but she really wasn’t a comfort once she was asleep.  She sleeps like she is dead! HA!) When I dwelt in their shelter, I felt comfort.  As I have grown, I have come to understand that is the picture of dwelling with my Heavenly Father.  Drastic changes occur when I step out on my own, rather than dwelling with the Most High and resting in His shadow.  And I find it amazing how obvious it is, for me and for those I love, to see when we have stepped out from under His shelter over our lives.  It is frightening how quickly Satan is there to trip me up and when I have stepped out on my own, it works and it works quickly.  But when I am dwelling with my Father… in prayer, in His word, in His ways, though I am still attacked, I find rest.  Today, in the middle of a hard journey with our older adopted daughter who has stepped out from under His shelter, I can still say, as the scripture says, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”  I don’t know where things are headed.  I don’t know when the happily-ever-after with her will come this side of Heaven, but still yet, I find rest when I am dwelling (and in all honesty right now… hanging on for dear life) in the Most High.  But it is a daily battle and effort to not be led away into my fears and worries and the world around me.  What is your battle?  What is trying to steal you from the glorious safety of dwelling with our Father?  What have you/will you do to guarantee you remain within the refuge of the Lord, who you trust?