Many times, more lately, it appears that the Holy Spirit is directing my morning Bible reading with precisely what my soul is thirsty for. The Word becomes nourishment for my heart and reminds me that I am not the first man to face challenges and obstacles beyond anything I could have imagined.
David said this 3000 years ago—but it was perfect spiritual sustenance for me today:
“The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked advance against me to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.” (Psalm 27:1-3)
The Lord is my “pilot” and he will provide my rescue: not the federal government or my governor or the W.H.O. If that is the case, then why be afraid? Do I trust the UN and politicians more than God? What a ludicrous comparison! But of course this virus is not a small matter. Some are saying that it might be more deadly than the 1918 Spanish flu and that our economy could take years to return to where it was just a few weeks ago! We will never be the same.
But when David offered the words above, he had good reasons to fret and panic—events were happening that were even greater worries for him than ours. People were hunting for him, his son wanted to murder him, his most trusted friends had betrayed him and the armies that surrounded Israel had a bounty in his head. David new the reality of intrigue, betrayal and murder. He had lived through more personal loss, through the deaths of his best friends and precious sons, and the consequences that God sent upon his nation for his own foolish choices, than most any other men. And yet, he was confident of God’s love, forgiveness, restoration and favor.
How is this? He had experience with God in matters of catastrophe and he loved God and knew that God loved Him. Because of this, at the end of this Psalm, David could write:
I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:13-14)
Do we have the same experience with God… the same confidence…the same courage? If we don’t it’s our own fault. “Experience” the power and presence of God in your life now—don’t wait for the next world-wide catastrophe. Chose today to give Him the best part of your day to seek Him, praise Him, confess your failures to Him and lift your petitions to Him.
As with planting a tree, the best time to get to know God was ten years ago. The second best time is now.
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