Psalm 18:35 “You give me your shield of victory,”
[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;”
[As I tire in the daily battle, I can look to you and you will 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, then our galaxy, then our solar system, to our world and in the end, 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, leaving the tomb, rising up to the Father and again filling the whole of the universe (Eph 4:10).
You are astoundingly Great and amazingly Humble. In your grace you stoop down to share your greatness with us so we can push through and win, so can we conquer the enemy, reach the goal and achieve your desires–for without you we can do nothing (John 15:5).]
I praise you for choosing to be my Shepherd, to guide and provide every day, to restore my soul and lead me in paths of righteousness. What a wonderful Savior, worthy of worship, of obedience, of love. May I give you these and more today as I walk in the light of your being and revel in your grace and goodness. Amen.
