| II Chronicles 4:1-6:11; Romans 7:1-13; Psalm 17:1-15; Proverbs 19:22-23
“I call on You, God, because You will answer me; listen closely to me; hear what I say. Display the wonders of Your faithful love, Savior of all who seek refuge from those who rebel against Your right hand. Guard me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings from the wicked who treat me violently, my deadly enemies who surround me…But I will see Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied with Your presence.” (Psalm 17:6-9, 15)
The Psalms mean so much to a grieving heart. I remembering watching my son’s face the day he absorbed the entirety of his commitment to the armed services. For me it was temporarily devastating. I love him so much. You know that we never fully comprehend some things until we actually start walking it out. When he signed up for the military, as a parent, there were some things I could tell had not truly registered within him yet. Some of that settled this particular day and it got to me. I thought about Mary watching Jesus, her son, carrying his cross and briefly identified with her role as a parent. I know they were in a different position, but the feeling of helplessness is still the same. I was unable to change a thing concerning my son’s commitment, not that he would’ve even wanted me to, but you know what I’m saying. Things are beyond my control and this Psalm really speaks to that. “I call on You, God…Display the wonders of Your faithful love…Guard me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings…I will be satisfied with Your presence.”
I will call on God and so must he. Our help and hope is from above. Only God can soothe our hearts, prepare our way and keep us safe. God hears our cries, we are the apple or the center of God’s eye so to speak. We must count on Him and know that we are well protected. We are the eye and He is the lid. The eyelid can move voluntarily but it automatically closes periodically in order to keep the eye moist, clean and safe. Like the eyelid to the eye, God reflexively surrounds us. We are His children and He can’t help Himself. It’s in His nature to protect what is His and with that knowledge I can say that I am “satisfied with Your presence.” I feel safe knowing He loves us both and has the ability to guard over every aspect of our beings. God is good.
PRAYER:
Lord, I pray for all of the sons and daughters who are in the militaries of their respective countries. I ask that You guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus and keep them safe from all evil and harm. I pray against war and ask that You would guide our leaders by Your righteous hand. Lord, I also pray for the family members of those who are in the service that You would help them to be faithful to their soldier. Lord, watch over them all and bring them safely home again. And Father, be there for those who are in different situations of stress, let Your peace flow to them as well. In Jesus’ name, Amen. |
