Psalm 18:35 “You give me your shield of victory,”

[Your shield, your powerful, proficient, positive protection for us goes on and on, Lord, as you give us your shield of victory. But I must take it up and lift it with praise (Eph. 6:16)–and as I do so, you give the victory over the enemy, over temptation, over negative thoughts and emotions, over my old self.]

“and your right hand sustains me;”

[Biblically the right hand is the one of honor and strength. As I tire in the daily battle, I can look to you and you will, with your right and strengthen me, refresh me, give me more will and energy to press on in the fight against the world, the flesh and the devil. I must look “to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” and “consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that [I] will not grow weary and lose heart” (Heb 12:3).]

“you stoop down to make me great.”

[You in your greatness, as Lord of all creation, must lower yourself from Heaven to enter the universe, our galaxy, our solar system, our world and come to the location when I’m at. There you reach into my life to do what is necessary to make me successful in following you, as you define success.

You stooped very low to willingly and lovingly redeem us, becoming a man, being weak, dying in our place, being buried, going to the lower parts of the earth to defeat the devil and death. Therefore, you could rise up in power and light, out of the tomb, up to the Father, again filling the whole of the universe (Eph 4:10).

And now you fill all my life with your Spirit, with your goodness, wisdom and grace. Help me today, Lord to keep you at the center of my life, checking in with you often, following what I know to be right that I may stay under your shield of victory.

Protected by the shield of victory in the battle of life (from internet)

Chapter 84  Big Challenges

In the year of 2008, things beyond our control were developing which would take us in a new and different direction. Barbara’s mother was 89 at the time, living alone in her own home and in need of help. After much prayer we sensed the Lord leading us to move to Germany and take care of her.

This was not at all to my personal liking. First, I loved being in our country where my work was, where my disciples were, and now where my boys and their brides were.

Second, my ability to speak German was very weak. I would have to start learning another language at the age of 62—not an easy or welcome prospect.

Third, I did not like Germany. As beautiful as it is, in my opinion it is over-regulated. There is a rule for everything and everyone works to make sure you obey!

After functioning within the very flexible cultural situation of the Middle East  (with the exception of bureaucracy), this change would be hard for me. In our old country you can cross the street anywhere there’s no barrier; you can park on the sidewalk if it’s low enough; you can ignore certain traffic lights that all the drivers agree are irrelevant; you can wash your car yourself.  All these are forbidden in Germany.

However, when the Lord calls, the best response is obedience. And when we obey, God gives us joy whether we get what we “want” or not.

There was, however, one big “plus ” to life in Germany:  driving on the autobahn. On the German freeway system, you can drive 110 miles an hour and do it legally! I could look forward to that!

While living in Germany, I would be able to continue my area supervision work with the use of email, skype and occasional visits to our old country.

So we began our preparations for leaving in the Fall of 2008.

The summer of 2008 proved to be an incredibly stressful one for me. We were finishing up a big construction project for the business, one that had promise of a good profit. However, that  was the year the world-wide financial crisis crashed onto the scene, and our hopes of good sales were dashed. This left us unable for the moment to pay back all the interest-free loans we’d been given. Fortunately the men who had made the loans were willing to wait for repayment.

Then my car was stolen. It was an old one, a 1993 Fiat station wagon, a model no longer in production. Used parts were hard to come by, so it is probable that the thieves immediately chopped it up to sell for parts.

At any rate, we never saw it again. I was sad to lose it, for we had hoped to sell it and use the money to buy a car in Germany. We would just have to trust the Lord to work that out. So we praised Him and moved on.

However, there was MUCH more stress to come which made for much pressure and spiritual growth.

Psalm 18:33b “he enables me to stand on the heights.”

[For David, to be on the heights was to be safe, to be the winner. And you, Lord Jesus, make us winners with you by bringing us to the mountain tops of truth, wisdom and faith. You guide us through the valleys, the traps and attacks of the enemy, leading us up onto the high place of victory.

You empower us then to stand on the heights, even though Satan tries to “throw me down [I am just a] leaning wall, a tottering fence. Surely they intend to topple me from my lofty place,” but you, Lord Jesus,  are “my rock, my salvation, my high tower,” and as I abide in you “I will never be shaken…for my hope comes from you alone” (Psa. 62:1-5).

As we “put on the whole armor of God” we will “be able to stand in the evil day”—no matter what comes—“and having done all to stand” (Eph. 6:13).

Whatever triumph, whatever victory, whatever accomplishment comes, you are the One who brings it to pass, Lord Jesus, “for without you we can do nothing” (John 15:5).

I give you praise, our Mighty Rock, for you are the reigning, equipping and protecting God, fully worthy of our obedience, worthy of our bringing you glory and honor. May it be so today as we stand in high places, such as in this picture.]

Psalm 18:32 “It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.”

[It is not my wisdom or effort, my talent or training nor my resources that bring effectiveness. It is you alone, Lord God, who prepares all. You are the Mighty and Wise One who pours strength into my life, who goes before and prepares the way in relationships and opportunities–and in me–making a way perfect.

Help me to run with endurance and patience the race that you have set out for me this day, looking consistently to Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Every day there are uncertainties before me, all of which I could worry about. But as I reject worry and actively trust in you by praising you for your help before any appears, as I think the truth of who you are, of how you have laid out a perfect path for me to follow, and as I find my rest in you (Ps. 62:5), I will fulfill the purpose you have gifted me in life: to give you glory and honor before all.

You, out of your eternal riches, have prepared more than I need of strength and grace, of power and wisdom, of protection and provision, and of guidance and goodness (2 Pet. 1:3-4). You are constantly pouring them into my life whether I see them or not, sense them or not– and I will praise you for your goodness and graciousness now before I see them manifest in this day! To you be honor for your grace and goodness.]

Psalm 18:31 “For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?”

There is no one else like you, O LORD, the Eternal One with no beginning or ending–all others are creatures with a finite start, each one designed to be in relation to you. You, as LORD, are the only source of unchanging goodness, unwavering stability, and unending grace.

Although you are the great and mighty God of history, of eternity, of all that is to come, you have made yourself “our God.” You are not distant and demanding. No, you are personal and patient, compassionate and kind, concerned and consistent. In your love we find rest.

You are the “wholly other One,” different from your creatures in essence, in eternalness, in entirety. You are perfect in each part, so there is no need for change or growth, maturing or learning. You know all, you do all in completeness, you make no mistakes. You are the solid Rock of Truth, Stability and Love, totally trustable, fully faithful and completely compassionate.

What appears to be failure from a human perspective, is actually perfection in process. Think of the death of Christ–without this seeming defeat, there would have been no resurrection, no regeneration, no redemption. His death was one part of the perfect plan you were bringing to pass.

In a similar way you are at work in our lives today, bringing good to pass through the ups and downs of life. You only are our Lord, you only are the Rock, you only are to be worshiped.

Guide us today, Lord, in resting in you, in thinking Truth, in praising you in all, and in seeing the daily God-sightings as you lovingly work in our lives.