We often value the wrong things. We can spend our lives working to surround ourselves with things that don’t matter. We can sacrifice the things that do matter, to gain those things that don’t.”
–Dan Arnold (Bear Creek)
“From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'”
–Matthew 4:17 (NKJV)
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“The Lord of glory is my light
And my salvation, too.
God is my strength, nor will I fear
What all my foes can do.”
–Isaac Watts
Are you fearful about the future? Do you get worried about the elections of 2020? Are you afraid to walk out your door for fear of being shot or molested? Where are your thoughts? What should they be on? What is your greatest desire? The first part of Psalm 27 has the answers for these questions.
1 – The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom should I be afraid?
2 – When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh, my foes and my enemies stumbled and fell.
3 – Though an army deploys against me, my heart is not afraid; though a war breaks out against me, still I am confident.
4 – I have asked one thing from the Lord; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
gazing on the beauty of the Lord and seeking Him in His temple.
5 – For He will conceal me in His shelter in the day of adversity; He will hide me under the cover of His tent; He will set me high on a rock.
6 – Then my head will be high above my enemies around me; I will offer sacrifices in His tent with shouts of joy. I will sing and make music to the Lord. (HCSB)
Right from the start we see, we know, we can have the assurance that we can go through this world with God by our side. He is our protection whether it be in this physical realm or from attacks in the spiritual realm. God is with us, therefore, we can walk with confidence.
Your greatest desire, what is it? Many will say more money or wealth, some might say a new car, others may want peace or ease. Notice: David’s greatest desire, the one thing he asked for was to live in the house of the Lord. So many Christians live from day to day, others live for self. David was yearning for heaven. How many believers see Heaven the most? A verse that we should grab hold of tightly and never let go is where Paul wrote in Philippians, “For me, living is Christ and dying is gain.” (1:21, HCSB)
Here is something that you should try; it might prove to be interesting. What are your weaknesses? Write down just three. Then go to the Scripture and look at how God is perfect in that area. Then turn to Him, begin to praise Him in that area of your weakness knowing that He is there with you and is able to protect you and help you overcome.
I like the prayer of Jean Baptiste Avrillon:
“Adorable Sun, enlighten my steps. Be thou the true noonday of my soul; exterminate its darkness, disperse its clouds; burn, dry up and consume all its filth and impurities. Divine Sun, rise upon my mind and never set.”
Of course, he was speaking not of the “sun” but of the divine Son of God–Jesus Christ. Look at who Christ is in our life, if we allow Him to work. Grasp hold of that last phrase, “rise upon my mind and never set.”