Thinking about the anxiety and fear that grip so many of us at times–including myself–and the way to defeat them, which is using the sword of the Spirit. Psalm 18 is one of my favorites.
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],
“in whom I take refuge” [this is my part, fleeing to Him in praise and, persistence, thanksgiving and trust].
“He is my shield” [my personal, portable protection, shielding 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–if I 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” [an impregnable, impenetrable, undefeatable 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)!]
