Psalm 27

The Lord Is My Light and My Salvation 

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 evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.

Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. 

One thing I have asked of the Lord, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. 

For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. 

And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! You have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, Lord, do I seek." Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.

Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. 

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! 

Dear God,

What would You have me learn from this passage? You are light. You are salvation. You are a stronghold. If I truly believe these things about You, then I should not be afraid. My enemies will stumble and fall. I can trust You to protect me even when the battle rages around me and against me. God, I ask again that You continue to intervene on behalf of the least of these with regard to healthcare and budgets. And I thank You that You have taken me in when my human father abandoned me. God, help me as I learn to wait for You. Help me to be strong. Help my heart to feel courageous. 

Thank You.

In Jesus' Name, 

Amen

A Hiding Place

"The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him." - Nahum 1:7 

"This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." - I John 1:5

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." - Psalm 56:3

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." - Matthew 28:19-20

Dear God, 

You are a refuge in times of need. You are good. You will protect me. You are light. You will always be with me. God, as the republican monsters go after healthcare AGAIN, please step in and intervene on behalf of the least of these who need their healthcare to remain intact. 

Thank You.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

Shine Like a Star

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." - John 1:5

"Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us." - Psalm 62:8

"Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain."- Philippians 2:14-16

Dear God, 

You are the light that shines in the darkness. The darkness will never overpower Your light. Right now, I am struggling to see Your light. God, I am troubled. I am broken. I am weak. Medical issues. Emotional issues have surfaced. Anxieties because of the republican monsters who are still trying to destroy healthcare I need. Anxieties with regard to physical therapy. Anxieties with regard to social skills stuff. God, I can no longer fake it until I make it. I am broken! Help me! 

Thank You.

In Jesus' Name, 

Amen