From my Life Journal last week…

SCRIPTURE:

Psalm 59.9-10: O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress. 10 My God in his steadfast love will meet me…

OBSERVATION:
David praises God that He is stronger then his enemies… Even though they are “fierce men” v.3), God is the “Strength” of his people. Though evil men may prowl the streets of the city and promote anarchy, the Lord is the “fortress.” In the face of the hatred shown by the enemies, the Lord is the “loving God” by whose “love” his people thrive.

APPLICATION:
Assurance, comfort, peace… beseiged, anxious, agitated… all these emotions are expressed in this psalm… it is almost as if David’s lament is his engagement of God through song to find his “center” in God’s love… Saul’s attacks have sent David into exile. His life is a constant reaction to and an anticipation of those who would seek to capture him or take his life… but amdist it all he seeks to be at peace with the awareness that God is stronger than his enemies, that God can be the shelter/fortress since he cannot find refuge in a fort made by human hands, and that God’s love will embrace him since he is cut off from all the sources of love he would normally enjoy…

This resting in God, what Jesus will call  “abiding” or “remaining in me” is challenging for me… Jesus calls me to rest/abide/remain… I always want to be on the go… then disappointment, sadness, etc. come and I want comfort, strength, and love… the very things I have deprived myself of by not resting in him! Had I abided I would not feel so isolated now… but God is gracious… as David recognizes: “God in His steadfast love will meet me.”

The truth is that I am not faithful to abide but God is gracious to come to me… to meet me… The resting life is difficult for me… It is ironic that I find it difficult to recognize my need to abide and rest in Jesus– and taking the time to do so. I frequently confuse this for laziness, unproductivity, and inefficiency. And yet, I marvel when people go through horrible times with grace, humility, and room in their heart to love others… It is a testimony to me that the abiding life is not unproductive… it produces fruit in season and out of season…. The human spirit whose God is their strength, fortress, and love cannot be defeated or destroyed. It triumphs over all because it lives in the shadow of God’s wing…

PRAYER (Excerpted):
Dear father, help me to abide in you so that I might know the benefits of your strength, the refuge of your fortress, and the embrace of your love… In Jesus name…