Tag: Psalm 91

Not If, But What, When

- dannalundstrom

The act of being saved is a one-time event, but for me, the act of living saved is a daily commitment.

I was listening to John Piper this morning, and he said, “for believers, it is not a question of if we will face anxiety, but what we will do about it when we do.”

I can dress myself up on the outside, all the while there is a storm churning on the inside. I am in a difficult season of battling the anxieties that strike like a thief in the night without warning, leaving me fighting for breath and feeling like the weight of the world is on my chest with a hold around my neck. It is not fun, but as I have come to know, hard and holy walk hand in hand. Enduring the droughts of affliction are strenuous, but the presence of my Savior in their midst is always sacred. I am very thankful that when we drink from the cup of suffering it is two-sided, a battle and a blessing.

Anxiety is a taboo subject in our society, especially in Christian circles. We live and love in a fallen world. Therefore, it should be no surprise that even the most faithful disciples are vulnerable to anxious hearts and minds. What I was reminded of this morning as John Piper said is that it is not the if but the what that is important. What are you, am I, going to do about it?

Like any trial, we have a choice to cave or to conquer. I am not suggesting that there is a magic wand that can be waved and poof, anxiety or any other problem is gone. That would be nice, I suppose, but we would miss the fruits of refinement. What I am saying is that we are not powerless to any attack the enemy launches.

Many days in my effort to survive, I have been rendered helpless in the face of the fire. You see, when I am busy fencing God’s battles, I forget to be still and let Him do the fighting for me. Dealing with anxiety does not have to be a place of passive punishment, but it also should not be a place of polluted panic either. We have divinely designed tools available to us. Jesus knew we would need weapons for warfare, and thus supplied them. Think of one of His most tormenting times in The Garden of Gethsemane. He went to pray and took a few of the disciples with Him and said, “stay here and watch with me.” Matthew 26:38. It seems that He was leaning on His friends to unite with Him and provide support. Why should we be any different?

Looking back, it has been on the days I have reached out to a friend and asked for prayer, laid my bible on my chest, turned on worship music and actively sought the Lord and His helpers that I found the most relief. It isn’t that all anxiousness disappeared, but there was a noticeable easing of intensity and peace that paved the way for perseverance.

I have been resting a lot lately in the words of Psalm 91. The first verse is a poignant picture of the mercy God offers us in the presence of peril. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. ~ Psalm 91:1

The word dwell in this verse means to sit. It is a depiction of peaceful rest. Also, abide means to lodge or live, speaking to those who make The Lord their home.

When God is our place of repose, there are blessings, grace, and mercies available to us that I otherwise miss when I put myself, or worse, the enemy in charge. It is so easy to forget where my sanctuary is. The world offers many imitators who make a lot more noise, commanding my attention and sometimes my affection. Impostures are short-term, addictive and only leave us rattled, never restored.

Friend, I do not know what you may be walking through today. Maybe you are enjoying streams of abundance, or perhaps you are riding the rapids. Either way, we all face times when we must choose to fight or fall. As I need to remember so many days, our best defense, Our God and His abundant provisions, is a place of peace but not always passivity. Jesus invites us to Him, Matthew 11:28, come to me all you who are weary. This verse implies action on our part, and we cannot retreat to His asylum if we have relented to assaults.

I know it is easy to become a weary warrior, but Jesus ransomed us more for endurance through the difficult times than enjoyment through the delightful times. Sometimes we forget to ask for that which was secured for us. Don’t give up. Lean on the prayers of a friend. Live under the provisions of your Father.

Lord God, it is you who leads us to that is best equipped to see us through. I know that in all the hard places you maintain holy purposes. Give us eyes to see your eternal possibilities, not our earthly problems. Amen.

Encountering The King In The Courtyard

- dannalundstrom

The last week I have been sweetly reminded how God often uses His people to manifest his presence. Three times, to be exact, I have been swaddled by His embrace through encounters or conversations with a friend. Sometimes these unexpected blessings play out in a way that it is undeniable whose pen strokes scripted the story.

I am resharing this for anyone struggling today. Whether it be fear, physical or emotional pain, anxiety, depression or anything else that renders you feeling alone, this is for you. Sometimes God sends His children, and sometimes His creatures to articulate and authenticate His affections.

May you feel the security of the shady shelter of His wing today! You are loved.

Does your faith need a cool drink of refreshing water?  Read along.

I see our Lord everywhere; in people, in children, in my dog, (yes, my dog), and especially in nature.  Some people raise their eyebrows at this concept, but when Jesus Christ saturates your life you cannot help but view life shaded in a reflection of Him.

I will never forget last Thursday when one of my more memorable encounters with My King happened in a courtyard at Covenant Counseling Center.  I had finished a session with my counselor, but earlier in our time together I was describing a story a friend told me about when she was a little girl.  She explained that her daddy would kneel every night and pray before she and her sister went to bed.  The two sisters would fight to be the one who got to get under him as he was kneeling in prayer.  The story was so precious and touched me so much that the imagery I formulated will forever be imprinted in my mind and on my heart.  It was a story that reminded me of a verse that is very special to me. Psalm 91:4 ~ He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings.  His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

I was telling my counselor how this verse has been layered over me time and again the last couple years.  Little did I know that just a short time later, that very verse would come to life right before my eyes.

I finished my session and walked out to a crisp, sunny, beautiful day.  I had an urge to be outside, so I drove home, got my reading materials and came back to the same location to sit in the peaceful and inviting small courtyard in front of the building.  One thing I love about that courtyard is it appears like an umbrella of trees, so it feels secluded and safe. While I was sitting on the bench, I was praying and again reflecting on many verses in addition to Psalm 91:4.

I was there about an hour when my peace was interrupted by an onslaught of noise in one of the trees just to my left.  A majestic, red tail hawk landed on a sturdy branch, and he had an army of crows, after him.  Crows are loud, and they are relentless predators.

I suddenly froze and was unable to think or react quickly because I could not believe what was evolving.  In that quiet place Psalm 91:4 was beautifully played out in the nature that surrounded me.  I was in awe of my faithful and loving Father, who goes to creative lengths to express His presence and love.  Let me explain.

After studying the battalion of crows charging at the hawk for several minutes, I noticed the hawk was using his wings as a deflector and shield of protection.  I eventually maneuvered myself into a location that I could see the hawk was protecting something under his wing.  Time and time again crow after crow would dive at the hawk, and the hawk would bat his wing to deflect the attack.  I watched this go on for over 15 minutes. The hawk was protecting a baby and was doing so with such commanding diligence, strength, and care.  The crows were not giving up easily, but neither was the hawk.  He was resolute.  Despite the continuous assaults, the hawk shielded that vulnerable baby.

The other thing that impacted me was the stability of the hawk; as he was hit over and over again using his wing for defense.  Some of the attacks were aggressive enough that he would bobble or slightly lose his balance.  Every single time, however, he would regain his footing, readjust and return to an anchored stance on the branch.  He never moved from the same spot the entire time even though he would stumble at times.  He never flew away in an attempt to flea from fear.  He never gave up, and he was the lone one standing in the end!

When we are under the shelter of our Lord Jesus, we are a lot like that hawk. Attacks come, fear assaults us and enemies persecute us.  We may lose our balance; we may have to readjust, and we may be shaken, but we are never shattered because our anchor is under the wings of a King, who is our armor and protection.  He will not be moved.  When our foundation is solid in Him, we may falter, and need adjustments at times, but we can withstand life’s storms still returning to a stable stance.

I was also reminded of Revelation 5:6 that day. ~ Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders.

Jesus suffered throughout his life.  Many attacks were forged against him and He was eventually crucified.  Sometimes life can leave us feeling battered, bruised, betrayed and cut up as if we, too have been slain.  The key to the verse in Revelation is the Lamb, though he looked as if he had been slaughtered, He was still standing.

Life is hard, but when His feathers are our garments and His wings our refuge, there will be times we are disturbed, but never defeated because the Promiser keeper says He is our sure foundation.