February 7, 2014
I almost didn't get up for devotions this morning. Snuggled in bed and at peace with little Apple Rose - the sunlight filtering in - I just wanted to soak in the beauty and meditate on Your Presence. I pulled up the psalm on my phone and was struck by the beauty of the psalm - and because I had to pee - ended up getting up anyways =P But still feel immersed in the quiet beauty of the morning and a sense of Your Presence heavy in the air I breathe.
The Psalm is lovely today - one of my favorites again - Psalm 91. I want to share it with the girls from Gravitate - struck by the power of Your love that flows in and through the words of this Psalm.
Let your glory flow over us Father - the essence and beauty and wonder of who You are - let it overshadow our lives and define them in the light of Your glory.
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his pinions
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand
but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes
and se the recompense of the wicked.
Because You have made the Lord your dwelling place -
the Most High, who is my refuge-
no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come to your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder:
the young lion and serpent you will trample underfoot.
"Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him:
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."
What does it mean to abide in the shadow of the Most High? He always goes before me - so that I am never ahead of him casting my shadow on him behind...
I have a vision also of this house built at the base of a mountain - snuggled into its immensity - its rock solid, rugged beauty and strength that has stood the test of time. Perhaps the house is the physical place - but it's the mountain and its power that makes it home.
Father do I believe this Psalm?
That no evil will befall me?
That Your angels bear me up?
I believe that You allow suffering in our lives - suffering and hard things - and yes, even evil can affect us - but it isn't the same thing as evil befalling us outside the protection and divinity of Your hands. It isn't the same as evil setting up shop in our lives and dwelling in our hearts as a poison.
It's like I asked Jason last night - are You unloving when You allow us to go through suffering? When You put us through difficulties and hard times? Was it unloving for You to send Christ to the cross - if not unloving towards us - at least towards him?
Yet yesterday at Bible study we girls talked about "chessid" your covenantal love - that overshadows our lives and should dominate our identity and define our relationship with You. It is that chessid that we cling to in hardship, in joy, in times of doubt, or faith, to know You more - we need to cling to Your covenantal love.
A thousand may fall at your side
Ten thousand at your right hand
But it will not come near you
You will look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.
Lord, your justice is coming... Your judgement will come someday- needs come someday - we can't continue on in the way that we always have - Yet you cover us - before and behind - not the evil of the world or the judgment of Your hands comes to us except through the shield and filter of Your Son - the ultimate embodiment of Your faithfulness and love - the embodiment of that chessid love.
We are born up by Your angels, we are delivered, we are rescued and saved - by Your great love. Amen.
Father - Amen and Amen. Seal in me this knowledge - that I would know it in my inmost being and experience it. How can I better share it with those around me? Show me Lord. Teach me.
Amen.
