safety

Psalms 63-64 – Day 2

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The Thirst Quencher.
(Based on Psalm 63)

O God, You are my God; my personal God;
I will seek You from the moment I wake up and all day long.
I have unquenchable thirst for You spiritually,
And living in this world that’s like a waterless desert and can leave a man faint,
Even my body longs for the physical refreshment You alone can bring.
I am fully aware of Your holiness, Your set-apartness,
Because I have observed Your power and glory first-hand.
I have discovered that Your mercy and goodness makes living worthwhile,
Which is why praise for You comes so easily from my lips.
So I will bend my knee in submission to You as long as I live,
And I will lift up my hands to You in prayer because of Your reputation.
You spiritually satisfy me like a fine meal does the body,
And joyful praise is my response.
When I lie in bed at night, my thoughts go to You,
I fill my sleepless nights by thinking about You.
Because You have been my help in times past,
I know I will find myself safely rejoicing in Your protection again.
I hold on to You for dear life,
And You keep me safe in Your powerful grip.
But as far as those who wish to harm me,
You will take care of them, giving them exactly what they deserve.
They will suffer death and defeat, their bodies consumed by wild animals.
But as the king of Your people, I will rejoice in You.
Everyone who is true to their word and follows You will have reason to glory,
But all those who speak falsely will one day be stopped.

Put the Fear of God In Them.
(Based on Psalm 64)

O God, please listen to what I am saying.
I know it sounds like complaining,
But I need You to keep me from fearing my enemies.
Hide me so that their plots against me fail,
Don’t let this unruly mob of hooligans get to me.
They use their tongues like a well-sharpened sword,
Like a bow in an arrow, their bitter words pierce deeply.
They aim them at those who seek to live with integrity,
Attacking suddenly and with impunity.
They seem to find strength in doing what is wrong,
They brag about the traps they secretly set,
Saying, “Who will ever see them?”
They’re always seeking new ways to do what is wrong,
And their search is usually successful.
The depth of their thoughts and the hearts behind them are a mystery.
But what they don’t know is that God has them in His sights,
They will find themselves wounded, pierced through by God, as if by an arrow.
Their own words will be turned against them,
Others will shudder when they see what happens to them.
All men will end up fearing God when they see what He has done,
They will have to think long and hard about His actions.
Those who are righteous in God’s eyes will rejoice in Him,
They’ll learn to put their hope and trust in Him.
Those whose hearts are right with God will have reason to boast in Him.

Psalm 62 – Day 2

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A Quiet, Patient Hope.
(Based on Psalm 62)

I am learning to wait quietly and confidently in the Lord,
Because He is my only source of true salvation.
I don’t find strength, deliverance, or refuge anywhere else.
He alone keeps me from being shaken by this world.
And I have a message for my enemies:
How long are you going to keep attacking me?
You’re all out to break me, but be careful,
To God, your defenses are like an unstable wall or a fence that is about to fall down.
You plot among yourselves about how to bring me down.
You’re nothing but liars, always talking trash about me,
Except when you’re in my company, then you act like my friends.
But I am learning to wait quietly and confidently in the Lord,
Because my hope comes from Him.
I don’t find strength, deliverance, or refuge anywhere else.
He alone keeps me from being shaken by this world.
God provides me with salvation, dignity, a source of strength, and a refuge.
Those who claim to believe in Him should trust Him all the time.
Pour out your heart to Him, because He really is a shelter in the storm.
All men, regardless of their status, are worthless, like a mist.
They deceive and lie, and their combined worth is that of air.
Don’t put your confidence in getting ahead through immoral means.
Even if you’re fortunate enough to gain wealth, don’t rely on it.
I’ve heard it said that true strength belongs to God alone, and so does mercy.
I’ve also heard it said that God pays back men according to their deeds.
He is merciful, but He is also just.

Psalm 61 – Day 2

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I Cry To You.
(Based on Psalm 61)

O God, I ask you to not only hear my cry, but to respond.
Please pay attention to what I am praying.
When I find myself in extreme circumstances, I will call out to You,
When my heart is overcome by the darkness, and I begin to despair,
Lead me back to the safety of Your greatness,
Where I will find refuge and protection,
Above all my circumstances, exalted above my situations.
For You have always proven to be a shelter for me,
A tower of strength and safety from the enemy.
I will seek refuge in Your presence forever,
I will hide under the protection of Your wings.
You have heard what I have promised,
And You have promised to give me an inheritance
Along with all those who love You and fear You.
Let the king live a long time and impact many generations.
He will live in obediently in Your presence,
All I ask is that You watch over Him with Your mercy and truth.
As a result, I will sing praises forever regarding Your reputation,
And I will do what I have promised every day I am alive.

Psalm 59 – Day 1

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Unchanging Love. Incomparable Power.

“You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me, for you, O God, are my fortress. In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me. He will let me look down in triumph on my enemies.” – Psalm 59:9-10 NLT

I’ve had bad days, but I’ve never had someone who was out to kill me (at least that I know of). I’ve never been hunted down like a wild animal or had armed mercenaries lying in wait outside my home, just waiting for me to show up so they could take me out. But David had, and he wrote this Psalm because of it. David knew what it meant to be hated, harassed, hounded, and hunted. He had experienced what it means to fear for your life. Every time he woke up he knew it would be another day filled with more of the same thing. But he also knew something that I too easily forget. He knew that God was with him, for him, and would rescue him – no matter what he faced that day. Which is why he could say, “But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress” (Psalm 59:16 NLT). David had experienced the unfailing love of God on previous occasions, so he knew that he could trust God to show up no matter what he faced that day. David knew that God loved him and that love never failed. While his own friends had turned their backs on him, David’s God was faithful and true. He would never let David down. “In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me” (Psalm 59:10 NLT).

But not only was God unfailing in his love and unwavering in His support for David, He was incomparable in power. In other words, God loved David, and that love was backed up by a strength that could protect David from anything and everything he faced. Love alone is not enough to prevent calamity from happening to someone who is dear to us. Many have had to watch helplessly as their loved ones died right before their eyes. Soldiers have had to watch, powerless to help, as their comrades died on the battlefield. Love for their brothers was strong, but incapable of preventing their death. But God’s love for us is backed by a power that is just as limitless. He not only loves us, but is capable of protecting, rescuing, and saving us. His power to save us is motivated by His desire to save us. He rescues us because He loves us. He saves us not just because He can, but because His love demands it.

David knew about God’s love because he had experienced God’s love. But it was more than some kind of sentimental, sappy kind of love. It was love expressed in power, exhibited in strength, and proven in acts of divine intervention. David knew he was love because he was still alive – in spite of all those who wanted him dead. His next breath was a reminder of God’s love. Seeing the sun come up in the morning was an opportunity to thank God for His love and deliverance. David’s problems still existed. His enemies were still there. But David knew that God would see him through the day, because God loved him, and that love was backed by power.

Father, how easy it is to forget that You love me – unceasingly. Somehow I know You are all powerful. But I sometimes doubt that You love me enough to make that power available to me each and every day. I fail to recognize that the very fact that I am alive is proof of Your power and Your love for me. Without Your sustaining power and unfailing love, I would cease to exist. You give me the strength I need to make it through the day. You lovingly sustain me, helping me make my way through the trials of life. May I learn to sing Your praises each and every morning, grateful for another day to serve You and watch You work in my life. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org