Of Mice and Minerals: Unexpected Lessons of a Prayer Retreat

Rock beneath me. Rock above me.

This summer, loaded down with a variety of stressors and noticing my last actual trip to anywhere was in 2019, I desperately needed a vacation. Long road trips tend to help clear my head. But where to go?

During an insomnia-driven 3 a.m. skim of social media, I noted a favorite band's upcoming Hollywood tour date, checked the calendar and realized "we could actually do that." So, despite soaring fuel prices, we hit the road 3 weeks later, trekking from St. Louis as far as Santa Monica on a brand new set of Continentals. It was a fantastic and picturesque trip that helped me shake off the last couple years to some degree. But it clearly wasn't far enough, as we hit the ocean and had to turn back around. I still needed a little something more.

 

Turns out Route 66 only goes so far. Hello, the Pacific.

Now recognizing the need for some extended alone time with the Lord, I began processing plans for a prayer retreat. A private retreat would be a new experience for me, and I was again unsure exactly how this might look, so I asked Him for direction. After several Missouri spots came up short, I suddenly recalled rumors of some beautiful destinations in Southern Illinois' Shawnee National Forest, a place I'd yet to experience. A brief search yielded cabin lodging available on my choice dates, complete with friendly farm animals and trails right on property. Bonus opps to visit recently relocated friends and a favorite eatery along the way basically sealed the deal. Just a couple days out, I booked a 2 night stay.

I really didn't go with much agenda, other than to pray and do some hiking. Following a visit with the farm animals on that first afternoon, I took a hike around the perimeter and came to my first rock formations, for which the area is known. It was here the Lord brought Psalm 61 to mind, and particularly verse 2, "Lead me to the rock that is higher than I." This became my theme. From worshiping in song inside Cave-In-Rock with its fantastic acoustics, to the breathtaking beauty of Garden of the Gods at sunset, the psalm was a perfect meditation to pray through at each stop. Long solo hikes during the days, complemented by nights filled with mesmerizing campfires and magnificent stars, kept me solidly focused on the astoundingly creative majesty of Jesus.

From inside Cave-In-Rock, opposite the view above.

Garden of the Gods at sunset. Massive rock structures in this old sea bed.

On my first night in the cabin after quiet time, I sat down to read a book our church was going through thinking this might be a chance to get caught up. After a few sweet moments of quiet, I thought I heard rustling. Seeing nothing, I returned to my reading. The sound came again, and I replaced my glasses just in time to spot it: A mouse! I caught the tiny rodent climbing its way out of a bucket of tchotchkes and fire starter kits on the far side of the room only to scamper toward the bed.

Not knowing quite how to extract said mouse from cabin, I made a quick call to alert my otherwise elusive hosts to the situation. However, before the kind man could arrive, the mouse and I had an encounter somehow ending with its tail in a glue trap, making it an easy catch. With few reasonable options, I placed the helpless creature in a kitchen pot and presented it to my host, who restated, as had his wife, that this had been their first rough season with rodent kind. Offering some additional traps and his promise to try a few preventive measures outside, we departed with apologies. No worries, said I. Mice get into everything.

Around that magic hour of 3 a.m., I half-awoke and soon noted again the sounds of scampering. Another mouse. Toward the beginning of what would be an hour-long, Tom and Jerry style pursuit of Mouse Number Two, I began to wonder what was happening. Wasn't this supposed to be a restful retreat time with the Lord where perhaps I could actually sleep through the night? Instead, I was near to becoming a quite contradictory animal-loving hardened mouse hunter.

It was at this moment the thought occurred: "There will always be a mouse."

Even during what might have been an otherwise peaceful and quiet retreat, there was something disruptive, something to deal with, something to cause incredible distraction. And here I was, quite as I often am, sleeplessly attempting to work out clever ways to resolve the problem. But a critical question was also raised: Could I still keep my focus on the Lord in the midst of it all?

The hunt finally ended with Mouse Number Two caught in the same location as my previous friend and placed in a new kitchen pot on the screened porch outside to be dealt with in the morning.

The next day, I addressed my captive and worked to assist my hosts by various means, including an attempt to block a possible mouse entry point. Even with some delay, I still made it to all desired destinations, continuing my consideration of Psalm 61 and conversing with the Lord.

That afternoon, I reentered the cabin and headed toward the kitchen, pausing as I looked into the restroom. "Oh, hello there," I calmly said to a very-shocked-to-see-me Mouse Number Three, who eventually unfroze and skittered behind the commode. This time I gave a mental shrug and went about my business.

A while later, as I sat at a table to prayer-write through Psalm 61 and journal some of my experience, Mouse Number Three finally came out of hiding and headed for the living area. As it passed I continued writing, noting at some point, "I literally just heard a squeak. Time to pray." In short order, my third little friend ended up caught in the exact same spot as the other two and was similarly collected.

While it first seemed strange that the Lord would present these tiny disruptions among the more substantive rocks, the mice became such a powerful metaphor that people I've shared the story with now keep reminding me of it as they consider their own proverbial "mice" and reactions to distraction.

Personally, this event seemed to highlight the difference between over-processing and trust. I may be able to "clever" my way through many problems, but the Lord is provider of both the intellect and the means to solution. (For those wondering, taking mercy on helpless creatures became part of the story too. Unable to fully achieve "hardened hunter" status, I soon learned the secret to extracting creatures from glue traps: Vegetable oil. And of course the virgin coconut oil was conveniently packed.)

However, despite any success or failure to clear the daily "mice" of life, the Lord also made clear He arranges each situation and I must not lose sight of Him, which can contribute to much of the overwhelm I was feeling just weeks before. There may "always be a mouse," or several, but even if some should appear to be Rodents of Unusual Size, I can always call to Jesus, that high rock and strong tower in whom I can find rest and refuge.

Whatever "mice" you might be dealing with today, I pray you too can see the God who rules over and is present in every circumstance. Certainly the One who once walked out of a rock-cut tomb has more than proven He can be trusted in any situation.

Praise the Lord for the creative ways He shows Himself through all things, whether road trips, rocks or even rodents.

Pray for Ukraine: Reflections From a Friend

As I have watched events unfold in Ukraine these past few days and weeks, I've experienced a few familiar feelings. Any incidence of violence or unrest has always deeply disturbed me, even half a world away. But it is a starkly different thing to experience such events alongside people you love and care for who are directly affected, people present in the U.S. and others stuck in the middle of a war zone. Of course your heart hurts more. Your prayers go deeper. You might understand a little more the desire to lay down your life for your friends.

As we trust the Lord for what we see, especially at a distance, often word and prayer are our primary weapons to help in battle, and we should wield both well. The words below were shared to our congregation yesterday by my friend, co-laborer and pastor of our church here in St. Louis, Sergei Marchenko. Born and raised in Kiev, his unique perspective is all the more profound in this time, and may help you to process and pray differently as well. 

The following is shared unedited and by permission.

Pray for Ukraine

This has been a surreal experience for me. I am here in St. Louis, a U.S. citizen (as of last June), a pastor of an American church watching on the screen of my laptop as historic events unfold in the country of my youth. What is happening was impossible to imagine despite all the warnings. It is still hard to believe. There is a war happening on the European soil involving an imperial power attempting to occupy and control a free peaceful nation. There are tanks on the ground, ballistic missiles targeting major cities, bombed-out schools, air raid sirens, weeping mothers, and evil, real evil.

So many emotions… Anger at Putin and the Russian army, admiration for Ukrainian heroes, grief over thousands of people killed and many more thousands displaced, disbelief at blatant lies presented and believed as “the truth,” longing to be in the beautiful city where I grew up, desire to fight, worry over family and friends in bomb shelters and traffic jams, dismay at scheming politicians, hope in God and trust in his sovereign good plan.

Another aspect of my surreal experience is that it came only three days after I finished preaching on the book of Habakkuk. For seven Sundays, I talked about the certainty of the Babylonian invasion of Judah and the possibility of hope in the worst circumstances. I proclaimed that God uses invasions and other evil things to achieve his good purposes for the people he loves. I preached that all evil, including ruthless invaders, will be punished; that justice and peace will come because God will not rest until all creation is restored. I talked about Jesus Christ who experienced the most horrific invasion when he willingly subjected himself to the experience of divine fury for us sinners. And I called my church to live by faith in this crucified and risen Savior and allow our own hearts to be so invaded by his love that we can rejoice no matter what happens. And so now I must remember what I preached. I must believe in Habakkuk 3:17–19:

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.

In light of what we can learn from Habakkuk, please pray with me

• For God to accomplish his purposes
• For Christians to live by faith
• For a spiritual awakening among unbelievers in Ukraine and Russia
• For justice and peace to prevail
• For violence to stop
• For evil to be punished
• For power to be used for righteousness

 
I highly recommend the referenced 7-part series "Habbakuk: Trusting God With a Troubled Heart," which can be found here by searching "Habakkuk" under the series droplist and dating from January 9.

 

 

Thank you for praying for Ukraine.

_______
Related: "From Cold War to Communion: A Psalm for Ukraine"

Resurrection Day 2015: How Long, O Lord? and other cries of the human heart

We recently covered a song (above – yep that's us) during a Sunday morning worship time which seems to have resonated with many in ways we did not anticipate. The question put forth by the song based on Psalm 13 is, “How long, O Lord?”

We ask such human questions of our lives and the lives of others in our confusion and weakness as we experience the broken things of this world. So did the writers of many Psalms and other Scriptures. I thought of some friends going through frightening medical concerns shortly before approaching the mic that morning. Others, of course, processed questions through their own unique lenses. Why is this happening? God, where are you? Are you there? Do you care?

We can find it a comfort, then, that the Perfect Human, the God-Man, asked a question too. Even through His pain on the cross, “...at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (Mark 15:34)
   
Unlike us, however, Jesus knew a bigger and ultimate picture, and the answer to His question allows us to see ahead to something greater as well.

Jesus’ question quotes the beginning of Psalm 22, which also pointed ahead to all He was suffering in great detail. While David, the Psalm’s author, experienced this question in frustration and fear as we might, and our suffering may be truly unjust or simply unexplained, Jesus is the only one who can ask this question as the completely innocent sufferer undeserving of such horrifying abandonment. Though He never did wrong, Jesus was willing to leave the comforts of Heaven and suffer too, to hang between Earth and sky, the mediator between the perfection of God and our broken desires to persist in ways God warns against, and which can only lead to our death and separation from Him.

Jesus was forsaken in that moment to briefly experience this separation and death so we ultimately don’t have to, so our relationship with God can be renewed, along with our world, forever. His resurrection three days later shows us His power to restore all things. Through this, He calls us back to Himself and gives hope in every question we may ask if we go to Jesus, abandon our own broken desires and believe Him.

Because of the cross, the answer to a painful, “How long?,” can be, “Not forever.” Life in this world is much shorter than we think, but eternity is beyond anything we can imagine. I urge you to think seriously about who Jesus is and what He’s done, and to trust Him through every question and cry of your own heart.

Resurrection Day blessings †

Original recording by Sojourn Music...

One Verse | God's salvation for past, present, future | Jeff Vanderstelt

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
-Romans 1:16-17 (ESV)

This was the "One Verse" Jeff Vanderstelt chose to speak on during the summer of 2011 as a guest speaker during this sermon series, highlighting God's salvation for our past, present and future. I had the privilege of meeting this godly man during this weekend. Watching him speak via the recent Verge Network 2014 conference live stream I was reminded of this talk, and that hearing him speak has an incredible way of making me fall that much more in love with Jesus.

Please watch and enjoy. Deeply.

Eight Questions to Address Loneliness

“Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.” -Psalm 25:16

Do you ever feel lonely?

We all feel lonely at times. Sometimes we’re just alone without much to do. Maybe someone moved away, physically or emotionally, and we miss them. Perhaps we’ve even been separated from another by death. There’s nothing wrong with missing friends or family members who are gone, and times of loneliness can be expected in this life.

Yet sometimes loneliness can feel consuming, like a nightmare that will never end. We can turn a normal emotion into something monstrous, even obsessing over the fact that we are lonely. Time to think becomes time to think about being alone, and when you are alone, plenty of time to ponder doesn’t help.

When a normal reaction to a situation becomes the ultimate thing we fixate on, it becomes a true problem. Once we allow circumstances to seem so huge, we inevitably move our focus from the only thing that matters. We can no longer see God for who He is.

How can your focus move away from circumstances and onto the Lord? Here are eight questions to consider as you seek to understand your struggle with loneliness and find joy in the Living God.

When you feel extreme loneliness, what type of situation(s) are you facing?

Your story of loneliness, just as your whole life, is completely unique on one hand, and completely common on the other. No one else has gone through your exact experience. However, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) Many people, myself (the author) included, have experienced deep loneliness on many levels and for many reasons.

Think a moment on your unique situation. What triggers your feelings of loneliness? Is it a certain setting? Someone just leaving? Seeing other people together? An inability to do something? Having too much time on your hands? Boredom is often a precursor to all types of temptations and frustrations. Pinpoint those moments when loneliness just begins to creep in and see if patterns begin to emerge.

Beyond “feeling lonely,” what is your reaction to your situation?

“I lie awake; I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.”
-Psalm 102:7

What do you do when that loneliness trigger occurs? Do you lose sleep? Become angry at people or God? Bury yourself in some form of distraction or entertainment?

One potential reaction can be to isolate yourself even further, and that can mean isolation from God. This is especially dangerous if you have withdrawn from a church fellowship, since Christian friends are frequently the very people God uses to teach us about Himself, and a little community might go a long way for you now.

Pay close attention to your natural reactions. What you do can show you where your mind and heart go first.

When you get lonely, what do you expect and believe about your situation?

This question isn’t always easy to answer. That’s because we usually don’t want to be honest about what’s really behind our reactions. Still, this is important to consider as it begins to shed light on what’s happening inside you.

With loneliness, you may feel you are owed something. You may even feel God owes you something. After all, He made people to be relational, so shouldn’t He give me that relationship? Maybe you begin to believe another person doesn’t deserve something. Why should they be happy when I’m so lonely? Perhaps you wish no ill will, but you’re simply jealous of other people. Maybe you turn on yourself, believing you are unloved and unlovable.

These are just some examples of bad beliefs that don’t honor God or others. Examine your heart to see what you believe and desire when loneliness strikes.

When you react and believe this way what consequences follow?

Everyone will answer differently, but the situation likely seems unbearable. You might become further isolated or even depressed, doubt the love of specific people, or seriously doubt the love of God. You may damage existing relationships by believing things that aren’t true. However you answer, this is not where you want to be. Serious battles with loneliness hurt you and, ironically, can hurt those around you.

You may wonder why we are reliving the negatives. Thinking through all this may have churned up sad emotions again. The good news is, despite how you feel, the story doesn’t have to end here. The following four questions are vital as you seek God in the grip of loneliness.

Who is God and what does He say about your situation and your loneliness?

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” -Psalm 46:1

While this entire series of questions can help you think through your situation, this is the most important question you can answer.

First of all, who is God? In the big picture, He’s the Creator of the universe, of this planet, of you and me. He saw our relationships in this world broken when the very first two people decided to do their own thing instead of what God said. Instant loneliness ensued. The penalty for doing our own thing was death. Our relationships with God and each other have been messed up ever since.

But God promised someone would restore things, and that someone was Him. Jesus Christ came into our broken world, God in human form, and was broken Himself. He lived perfectly, the only Man who ever loved others God’s way. He died and returned to life again, conquering death, which would otherwise leave us truly alone, forever separated from Him. Now, if we believe in Jesus as God, trusting Him rather than trying to do life on our own, we can know God today and be with Him and His people forever when He returns to fully restore everything—the universe, the planet and our relationships. No more sadness. No more loneliness.

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’” -Revelation 21:3-4

This verse speaks to our loneliness. We learn here that for God’s people it’s only temporary. The Apostle Paul spoke of suffering in 2 Corinthians 4:17 as a “light momentary affliction ... preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” Because of Jesus we can look forward to a perfect relationship between God and His people, together forever.

But what about today? What about right now when you feel alone? Another key verse is Matthew 28:20, where Jesus says, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Jesus Himself is with us right now. He does not leave us. Look at Psalm 46 again. He is “very present.” We are never truly alone.

How can you turn to God for help when you feel lonely?

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” -Hebrews 4:16

What Jesus has done also allows us to approach God and ask His help, and His forgiveness.

When you feel alone, it can help to ask the Lord to make His presence real to you so you can focus on Him, remembering all He did and is doing. Remind yourself who God is every day.

At the same time, you likely need to ask God’s forgiveness, both for not loving others well and not trusting Him. In oppressive loneliness, we often make demands on God, and people, for things God hasn’t provided. If you are dwelling on something you don’t have it can feel more important than God Himself. Ask His help to believe Hebrews 13:5, “...be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” While this verse deals primarily with money, just as in Matthew 28:20 we see Jesus never leaves us regardless of the situation.

In your particular situation there will be other specific things for which to ask God’s forgiveness and trust Him. Don’t be afraid to completely turn to Him.

What should you do now in order to honor God?

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Philippians 4:4-7 reminds us not to be anxious, but pray thankfully, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Look at all God has given you. He gave you life. If you believe in Jesus, He gives you Himself and eternal life with Him. In this alone there’s so much to be thankful for it’s almost amazing that in our circumstances we so often forget.

So thank Him. Thank Him for His presence and His love, for good relationships He has given and for everything He provides in your life.

You can also look for ways to actively get involved in the lives of others. Can you help someone else who may be lonely, even with a phone call? Perhaps there’s an elderly person or single parent in your church, or a volunteer organization that helps people. Remember, God uses His people in each other’s lives, so this could honor Him and another person while helping you both to feel not so alone.

What are some consequences of turning to God and believing Him?

“...I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. ...I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” -Philippians 4:11, 13

Like the Apostle Paul, you can be content in any circumstance as Jesus provides His strength and presence.

You can also learn to love others well as you focus on their needs, helping them also to see God for who He is.

This may not mean God changes your situation. It means He changes your heart. He changes your focus from your situation to His reality.

It also doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll never struggle with loneliness again. There are different seasons in life, and struggles can resurface. Yet God continues to work in us throughout our lives. I pray the Lord uses this article to help capture those lonely thoughts early so you can turn to Jesus quickly and find His inexplicable peace, knowing you are never alone.
_____________________

While this article was specifically written to address loneliness, these questions can be modified to think through anything that is plaguing you to help you understand your own emotions and how Jesus Himself addresses our fears, anxieties and wrong reactions.

Originally created for a CCEF (Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation) class, I hope the Lord uses this to help you see and trust Him more fully in your own struggles and situations.

a peace that passes understanding

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” -2 Timothy 1:7

In this year of political paranoia and financial failure, I've heard a lot of fear mongering from all kinds of people. I even met a conspiracy theorist in the freezer aisle at Trader Joe's a few weeks ago who was very concerned about the year 2012 and the Queen of England, among other things. And I've met more than a few people calling themselves Christians who are just beside themselves over all that's happening around them.

Granted, this is a difficult election on many levels, and I admit that I'm struggling to feel I can vote for either of the primary presidential candidates in good conscience before my Lord for a variety of reasons.

I'm also married to a man who just a few months ago had to end a job of 20+ years. We're currently trying to work out a situation with health insurance, and took at least one hit from the stock market ourselves.

But all that said, I'm not afraid of the future.

Maybe you've seen this e-mail, which has been going around for a while now:

10 Predictions No Matter Who Wins the Election
1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer (to the One, True, Living God) will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praises to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross for you.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost if they turn to Him.

Isn’t it great to know Who's still in control?

Now, want a prediction on who's going to win? It will be the man God chooses. But that doesn't negate our responsibility to vote, for the president or any other candidate or issue. What's incredible is that in the U.S. we get to vote and be part of the process of His choosing. So we need to do our research, vote as the Lord leads and leave the results to Him.

"The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes." -Proverbs 21:1

Also, regardless of who wins, believers need to follow the Lord's leading in how we can most glorify Him in whatever situations arise. Anything can happen, no matter who is in the Oval Office. (Remember The Civil War? WWI? WWII? Black Friday? Vietnam? Desert Storm? 9/11? Hurricane Katrina? Need I go on?) And God will be (has been, always is) in control of it all. He will always remain on His throne.

Christian, be ready to see how He will call you to serve in His historical framework rather than advising Him on your opinion of how things should be.

If you're one who doesn't know Him, I pray you will.

"The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord." -Job 1:21

As for the financial fallout, my husband was surprised when I wasn't nervous given his work situation. But I was (still am) trusting the Lord the whole time. I still had a job. Seeing what was coming, he was smart enough to take a bridge job even before leaving. This summer, the multi-talented guy could barely keep up with all the side jobs he was offered. I even got in on some of that action, which was fun. And now he has a job very close to home, thus saving gasoline, and could not be any more in his element.

The Lord clearly provided, past and present, in ways no one would have imagined. And as I watched and waited to see what would happen next, I saw (continue to see) His extraordinary control at every turn, and I give Him all the glory.

Will we ignore the Lord Jesus Christ who tells us not to worry about our basic needs? What does He say?

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." -Matthew 6:33-34

Seek Him first. Trust Him. He'll take care of you.

"...whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." -1 Corinthians 10:31

If you are a believer in Christ, you should be completely secure, no matter what the circumstance. Continue to watch what He does. Really watch! You will find ways to glorify Him. Don't get caught up in all the noise and distractions of whatever you think are horrible circumstances (even if they truly are). This is not the eternity we are looking for. Things will be bad here. He even told us so.

"...In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." -John 16:33

We trust Him. We look to Him for peace. We wait for His return.

The Bible spends a lot of time telling us things will, in fact, get worse before they get better—and by better, I mean the return of our King to set things right once and for all. Why, then, are we surprised when seemingly bad things happen, or if things appear "worse" than in the past? (Which is, in many instances, blown out of proportion or highly questionable.) We live in a world that's been sinful and fallen for a few thousand years. But now, we can broadcast our wretchedness to everyone. I often wonder if things are really worse or just more obvious.

Either way, God would be just to judge every nation at any given time. But in His patience He is waiting for the fullness of time and sparing us all. Praise Him for His mercy in allowing all who are called to come into His Kingdom.

"He who testifies to these things (in the Book of Revelation) says, 'Surely I am coming quickly.' Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" -Revelation 22:20

Pray for His coming. Look for His works. Glorify Him in all you see Him do. Trust Him for His ultimate decisions and control. Find your comfort in Him alone. And share who He is with others as you go, so those who are called by Him will eventually answer, glorify His Name and find peace in Him as well.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." -Proverbs 3:5-6

30 DoW: Day 25

I chose Psalm 20
1 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble;
May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;

2 May He send you help from the sanctuary,
And strengthen you out of Zion;

3 May He remember all your offerings,
And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah

4 May He grant you according to your heart's desire,
And fulfill all your purpose.

5 We will rejoice in your salvation,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

6 Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
With the saving strength of His right hand.

7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;
But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

8 They have bowed down and fallen;
But we have risen and stand upright.

9 Save, Lord!
May the King answer us when we call.

attribute & response:
Strength. A friend recommended this psalm today because of recent circumstances in our lives. It's rather militant, but he especially cited the first portion, where God is seen as defender, and one who helps us in the day of trouble, sending us help from "the sanctuary." The historic references here refer to the ark of the covenant, but the personal application is that while the world may actively try to work against us, there is a place we can go for help that they know nothing of. What we see as an end, for the Christian, is not the end. It's a new beginning in our lives as God provides.

I chose strength because God is our strength to get us through the difficult times, whatever they may be. The world may trust in many other things, but we can trust in the strength of the LORD. Again, he proves Himself only worthy of our complete trust and loyalty.

30 DoW: Day 22

I chose Psalm 131
1 A Song of Ascents. Of David.
Lord, my heart is not haughty,
Nor my eyes lofty.
Neither do I concern myself with
great matters,
Nor with things too profound for me.

2 Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,
Like a weaned child with his mother;
Like a weaned child is my soul within me.

3 O Israel, hope in the Lord
From this time forth and forever.

attribute & response:
Hope. I was drawn to this psalm because it talks about not being concerned with great things and being calmed and quiet. But that is because his hope was in the LORD. He trusted Him. I know many Christians who continue to express fear. But God says He has given us a spirit of power, love and a sound mind. We don't overcome fear on our own. We get these things as we hope in the LORD. Thank you, LORD, for being our only Hope.

30 DoW: Psalm 13

Psalm 13
1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?

2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3 Look on me and answer, O Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;

4 my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart
rejoices in your salvation.

6 I will sing to the Lord,
for he has been good to me.

attribute & response:
Good. Even in the midst of doubt, sorrow or attack, we can trust in God's goodness. I'm thankful for the many ways He shows that goodness every day, even beyond circumstance, but in His grace, mercy and unfailing love.

30 DoW: Psalm 31

Psalm 31
1 In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.

2 Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.

3 Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me.

4 Free me from the trap that is set for me,
for you are my refuge.

5 Into your hands I commit my spirit;
redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth.

6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols;
I trust in the Lord.

7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
for you saw my affliction
and knew the anguish of my soul.

8 You have not handed me over to the enemy
but have set my feet in a spacious place.

attribute & response:
Trustworthy. If we are to take refuge in something, it needs to be something we can count on or the effort is useless. The LORD is worthy of our trust as protector, leader, guide, redeemer. I think often we go through things in order to be able to build up that trust and really see it for all He's worth. We can trust Him with our very lives and spirits—even when He decides to pull us out of the race here.

A human companion one can fully trust is rare indeed, and even then comes up lacking by their own sin nature. I thank you, LORD, that where all else and all others fail, I can trust you without doubt.

30 DoW: Psalm 27

Psalm 27
1 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?

2 When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.

3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.

4 One thing I ask of the Lord,
this is what I seek:
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 seek him in his temple.

5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.

6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the Lord.

7 Hear my voice when I call, O Lord;
be merciful to me and answer me.

8 My heart says of you, "Seek his face!"
Your face, Lord, I will seek.

9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
O God my Savior.

10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will receive me.

attribute & response:
Savior. This speaks so strongly to the protection of the LORD and the fact that we who know Him have no one to fear, man or spirit, except Him alone.

It makes me think of all those who are experiencing their own "day of trouble" as we see natural disasters, financial crises, food shortages, various wars and many other difficulties arising around the world. Yet we who know God see Him protect and provide in ways we could not imagine.

Since this was written before Christ's coming, it is a slightly different flavor than the way we tend to use Savior for Him now—as the Savior who is the sacrifice for our sin. But He is Savior from all these things, and for all this He is to be praised.

30 DoW: Psalm 111 - Dependable

Psalm 111
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.

8 They are steadfast for ever and ever,
done in faithfulness and uprightness.

9 He provided redemption for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever--
holy and awesome is his name.

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.

Response:
It strikes very close to home that we can really trust nothing in this world. There is an extreme lack of justice. Our own faithfulness is often met with slaps in the face. It is especially close to home right now because my husband, who has worked with skill and care for his customers at the same job for 20+ years, is currently being ousted by that employer because of their own greed and concern for their bottom line.

Thank God that He is dependable in all things and at all times, even when the world is not. As I deal with my own anger at the injustices I see, personally and globally, I keep coming back to this reality.

I love the acknowledgment here that "holy and awesome is his name," as also addressed yesterday. To Him truly does belong eternal praise

And, of course, as we've seen so often throughout these clips of Psalms, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." This is the only kind of fear worth having.

30 DoW: Psalm 145 - Generous

Psalm 145
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all
generations. The Lord is faithful to all his
promises and loving toward all he has made.

14 The Lord upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.

16 You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and loving toward all he has made.

18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.

response:
I can't stop thinking about this because of current circumstances which might affect income. But I'm not really concerned about money, because I've always seen God provide for me and my family in all kinds of ways, and I've seen Him provide for friends in times of need in ways no one could have imagined, always "at the proper time."

To paraphrase something I heard recently...
If Satan threatened to take everything you have away, the Christian could simply reply, "It's not mine. My Father owns it all. I'm simply taking care of His property." And if Satan offered you the world, the believer could simply respond, "It's already mine. My Father owns it all. This is my inheritance."

The Lord has created everything, owns everything, distributes as He sees fit.
Thank you, LORD, for your true generosity in all you've made, in creating a planet that sustains our very lives.
If all our "things" were taken today, we can still praise you for your provision, past, present and future—even forever.

Thank you, Jesus, for the ultimate generous act of giving your very life
for all who call on you in Truth.
And thank you for your presence in my life.