I seemed to have startled many with my “hospital picture” in my last post. This is an old one from the last time I was in the hospital a while back. It was intended to be an illustration of how we can praise in all circumstances. My apologies. Now for today’s entry.
Psalm 18, one of my favorites, helps me to deal with the anxiety and fear that so often grip me –and all of us at times. It shows me the way to defeat fear and anxiety, which is using the sword of the Spirit.
Psalm 18:1-3 “I love you, O LORD, my strength.” [my weakness is both real and irrelevant, for His strength is everything.]
“The LORD” [the holy, sinless, completely other One, who rules with indisputable might]
“is my rock,” [my unshakable stability]
“my fortress” [my sure safety]
“and my deliverer” [my ever-present protection];
“my God” [the powerfully creative and utterly faithful One who has claimed me as His own]
“is my rock” [He has made Himself the place of stability, safety and security for me, more strong and immovable than the Alaska mountain in this picture],
“in whom I take refuge” [this is my part, fleeing to Him in praise and persistence, thanksgiving and trust when difficulties, disappointment and seeming defeat come].
“He is my shield” [my personal, portable protection, covering my head in every moment of the daily battle]
“for all who take refuge in him” (v 30) [Again, here is my part in the process: I must run to Him, think His Truth, trust Him—for He is the only place of safety and I must choose to stay in His Way.]
“and the horn of my salvation” [His power at work is what will save me, not my feeble effort],
“my stronghold” [the impregnable, impenetrable, undefeatable One who is my place of safety.]
“I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,” [only You, O God are worthy, only you are the One who can help]
“and I am saved from my enemies.” [simple, clear and true, but often not visible at the moment.]
As I call upon the Great One, the Holy One, the Ruler and Judge of all the universe, I am saved—not necessarily in the way or time I want but saved in the way He, who sees and understands all, knows is best.
He wants to save me first from my fears, then from my troubles (Psalm 34:4-6). I can praise Him now for what He will do, and my anxiety and fear will be defeated by His grace! (Phil 4:6-7)]
