My niece, Katie, and I are doing a devotional together online, using the YouVersion app called, “Remembering All God Has Done.” She lives far away from me, so it is delightful to connect with her in this way.
Today included Psalm 91:1-16, after the devotional that said this:
"Psalm 91 is a Psalm about God's faithfulness. In this psalm we read that God is our refuge, He is our fortress, He saves us, and He protects us.
This Psalm boils down to one simple fact: God is always faithful no matter the circumstances. He is there when times are good and when times are not so good. He is even there when you don't feel like He is.
Everybody's journey in life is different as they grow in Christ, but God's faithfulness is always the same. How have you experienced God's faithfulness throughout your life? Take time today to remember His faithfulness and how it has delivered you through the various stages of life. Thank God for His faithfulness and take comfort in knowing He will always be there for you."
Then I read the Psalm:
PSALMS 91:1-16 MSG
1-13You who sit down in the High God’s presence,
spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow,
Say this: “God, You’re my Refuge.
I trust in You and I’m safe!”
That’s right—He rescues you from hidden traps,
shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you--
under them you’re perfectly safe;
His arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,
not flying arrows in the day,
Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around,
drop like flies right and left,
no harm will even graze you.
You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,
watch the wicked turn into corpses.
Yes, because God’s your Refuge,
the High God your very own Home,
Evil can’t get close to you,
harm can’t get through the door.
He ordered His angels
to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they’ll catch you;
their job is to keep you from falling.
You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,
and kick young lions and serpents from the path.
14-16“If you’ll hold on to Me for dear life,” says God,
“I’ll get you out of any trouble.
I’ll give you the best of care
if you’ll only get to know and trust Me.
Call Me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times;
I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party.
I’ll give you a long life,
give you a long drink of salvation!”
My response was this:
I want to stop and take this all in. When I think about the last few months, it was almost like it was happening around me rather than to me. I have no recollection of the pain at all, and it was severe. There I was, losing a function daily, and it had no affect on how I was inside. This is so odd to consider. We know things happen to people, that is a fact. So what does this scripture really mean?
I remember hearing a story about a woman who was tied up by a man whose aim was to hurt her and rob her. She calmly spoke to him, asking him why he was doing each thing. She actually led him to accept Jesus as his Savior and Lord. He untied her and together, they called the police. I have the feeling that even though it was happening to her, she was at peace, and it happened around her. That is the only explanation.
I remember when we were hit head on, I fell asleep just before it happened, and never experienced it.
When my mother died, I fell asleep just before it happened, and woke up and she was dead. I went to tell the nurses and they were dumbfounded, saying: “We just checked on both of you 5 minutes ago and you were both sleeping soundly.”
Even though those two events happened, I never experienced them.
I wonder if that is how the Lord works when we live in a time where evil abounds. When we read in Revelation about the end times, we surely will be affected. But He may give us the peace that passes understanding during the pressure of the times. Jesus said He would give us His peace, not the peace the world gives, but His peace, the peace that passes understanding.
I know one of the big things that I gained from being so sick was a solid belief that the Lord knows and takes care of everything.
I do not worry at all. With Al going back and forth between here and Redwood City every day, I could worry about him being killed on the freeway. I don’t. I would have before May, but I have total confidence in the Lord’s ability to provide everything I need, and I can trust Him to care for everything and everyone that I love. Having that moment by moment confidence in Him changes how I relate to everything. I am grateful for all things. I am grateful to Him, as He holds my life in His hands securely.
Today included Psalm 91:1-16, after the devotional that said this:
"Psalm 91 is a Psalm about God's faithfulness. In this psalm we read that God is our refuge, He is our fortress, He saves us, and He protects us.
This Psalm boils down to one simple fact: God is always faithful no matter the circumstances. He is there when times are good and when times are not so good. He is even there when you don't feel like He is.
Everybody's journey in life is different as they grow in Christ, but God's faithfulness is always the same. How have you experienced God's faithfulness throughout your life? Take time today to remember His faithfulness and how it has delivered you through the various stages of life. Thank God for His faithfulness and take comfort in knowing He will always be there for you."
Then I read the Psalm:
PSALMS 91:1-16 MSG
1-13You who sit down in the High God’s presence,
spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow,
Say this: “God, You’re my Refuge.
I trust in You and I’m safe!”
That’s right—He rescues you from hidden traps,
shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you--
under them you’re perfectly safe;
His arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,
not flying arrows in the day,
Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around,
drop like flies right and left,
no harm will even graze you.
You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,
watch the wicked turn into corpses.
Yes, because God’s your Refuge,
the High God your very own Home,
Evil can’t get close to you,
harm can’t get through the door.
He ordered His angels
to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they’ll catch you;
their job is to keep you from falling.
You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,
and kick young lions and serpents from the path.
14-16“If you’ll hold on to Me for dear life,” says God,
“I’ll get you out of any trouble.
I’ll give you the best of care
if you’ll only get to know and trust Me.
Call Me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times;
I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party.
I’ll give you a long life,
give you a long drink of salvation!”
My response was this:
I want to stop and take this all in. When I think about the last few months, it was almost like it was happening around me rather than to me. I have no recollection of the pain at all, and it was severe. There I was, losing a function daily, and it had no affect on how I was inside. This is so odd to consider. We know things happen to people, that is a fact. So what does this scripture really mean?
I remember hearing a story about a woman who was tied up by a man whose aim was to hurt her and rob her. She calmly spoke to him, asking him why he was doing each thing. She actually led him to accept Jesus as his Savior and Lord. He untied her and together, they called the police. I have the feeling that even though it was happening to her, she was at peace, and it happened around her. That is the only explanation.
I remember when we were hit head on, I fell asleep just before it happened, and never experienced it.
When my mother died, I fell asleep just before it happened, and woke up and she was dead. I went to tell the nurses and they were dumbfounded, saying: “We just checked on both of you 5 minutes ago and you were both sleeping soundly.”
Even though those two events happened, I never experienced them.
I wonder if that is how the Lord works when we live in a time where evil abounds. When we read in Revelation about the end times, we surely will be affected. But He may give us the peace that passes understanding during the pressure of the times. Jesus said He would give us His peace, not the peace the world gives, but His peace, the peace that passes understanding.
I know one of the big things that I gained from being so sick was a solid belief that the Lord knows and takes care of everything.
I do not worry at all. With Al going back and forth between here and Redwood City every day, I could worry about him being killed on the freeway. I don’t. I would have before May, but I have total confidence in the Lord’s ability to provide everything I need, and I can trust Him to care for everything and everyone that I love. Having that moment by moment confidence in Him changes how I relate to everything. I am grateful for all things. I am grateful to Him, as He holds my life in His hands securely.
RSS Feed
