Sunday Scripture

  

Today for Sunday Scripture we're continuing my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal I'm using here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I've been attempting to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm  21.   The featured verse is verse 13, but I chose to SOAP verses 1, 7, and 13.  Here we go!

S= "The king shall joy in Thy strength, O LORD; and in Thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
"For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved.
"Be Thou exalted, O LORD, in Thine own strength; so will we sing and praise Thy power."  (Psalm 21:1, 7, 13)

O= In the Scofield study Bible, C.I. Scofield has given this psalm the title "God's Blessing of the King".  I personally think a better title might be "The King recounts God's blessings".  My copy of the ESV titles this psalm "The King Rejoices in the LORD's Strength" -- which is even more accurate.

The phrase "The king shall joy in Thy strength, O LORD" reminds me of the well-known and somewhat similar phrase in Nehemiah 8:10 -- "the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Cross-references for "strength" (verse 1) -- "The LORD is their strength, and He is the saving strength of His anointed."  (Psalm 28:7)

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped.  Therefore, my heart greatly rejoiceth, and with my song will I praise Him."  (Psalm 28:8)

Cross-reference for "salvation" (verse 1) -- "That I may show forth all Thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion.  I will rejoice in Thy salvation."  (Psalm 9:14)

Cross-reference for "moved" (verse 7) -- "I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved."  (Psalm 16:8)

Adam Clarke says that verse 13 serves as the epilogue of this psalm and that it contains two parts: a petition and a profession.  

1.  The petition: "Be thou exalted, O Lord, in thine own strength." Show thyself more powerful in defending thy Church than men and devils are in their attempts to destroy it.

2.  The  profession: We will be a thankful people; we will show that we have not received this grace of God in vain: "So will we sing, and praise thy power."

A= I can take joy in God's strength as David did.  I can greatly rejoice in the salvation He has provided.  I too trust in God, and because of the mercy of God Most High I need never be moved.  The LORD is to be exalted in His strength.  His people can sing and praise His power.  It is so encouraging to me to remember that He has the power to work in every situation we face in life.

"When God’s people experience victory over their spiritual enemies, they should acknowledge that their success is the work of God for them. We can look forward to future victories in the will of God because God is loyal to His promises and strong enough to overcome every foe." -- Thomas Constable

Isn't that great?

We can look forward to future victories in the will of God

BECAUSE

God is loyal to His promises

AND

strong enough to overcome every foe.

P= "Lord, how thankful I am for the countless times Your joy has been my strength!  I can joy in Your strength as David did.  I can rejoice in the salvation that You have provided.

"Help me to consistently trust in You as David did, knowing that because of Your mercy I need never be moved.  You will hold me fast, whatever difficulties I face in life.  I thank You that I may sing and praise Your power, and I am so thankful for Your powerful working in my life!  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Reflection Question:  David and his people were celebrating and singing praises to God for the victory and blessings He had given them.

Have you celebrated the blessings God has given you in your life including answered prayers?  Try writing a prayer or poem of praise below and be specific about something God has done for you or a loved one.

My response: I decided to try writing a poem about something specific God did for me in the past.  I'm still not completely satisfied with it, but here is my most recent draft:

Lord, You know how many times I drove a bumpy road --
Eyes brimming with tears as I faced the task ahead:
Elderly parents awaiting my care.
Toilets to scrub, sheets to change,
Meals to make, bills to pay,
And so much more.
Hardest of all,
Confusion and bewilderment
Laced with paranoia and bitterness.
"Lord," I prayed as I gripped the wheel,
"Please help Your joy to be my strength today."
You were and are so faithful, God!
May I never forget the way You answered
Every tear-soaked petition
With Your joy.

And there is our very simple study of Psalm 21.   I hope it's been a blessing!

 

Sunday Scripture

 

Again today for Sunday Scripture we're continuing my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal I'm using here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I've been attempting to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 20.   The featured verse is verse 7, but I chose to SOAP verses 6 and 7.  Here goes!

S= "Now know I that the LORD saveth His anointed; He will hear him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand.

"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God."  (Psalm 20:6-7)

O= C.I. Scofield titles this psalm "A plea for help from the sanctuary."  My copy of the ESV Bible titles it "Trust in the Name of the Lord our God".

Cross-references for "holy heaven" (v.6) -- "I have found David, My servant; with My holy oil have I anointed him."  (Psalm 89:20)

"Thus saith the LORD: I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem  shall be called a city of truth, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts, the holy mountain."  (Zechariah 8:3)

Cross-reference for "saving strength" (v. 6) -- "The LORD is their strength, and He is the saving strength of His anointed."  (Psalm 28:8)

David states: Some trust in chariots;
                    Some trust in horses;

                    BUT

                    We will remember the name of the LORD our God.

The word "but" always signifies a change of direction.

Cross-references for "chariots" (v.7) -- "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots, because there are many, and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD."  (Isaiah 31:1)

"How, then, wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?"  (Psalm 36:9)

Cross-references for "horses" -- "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but safety is from the LORD."  (Proverbs 21:31)

"When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them; for the LORD thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt."  (Deuteronomy 20:1)

"An horse is a vain thing for safety; neither shall he deliver any by his great strength."  (Psalm 33:17)

Cross- references for "but we will remember the name of the LORD our God" -- "Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whose name you have defied."  (1 Samuel 17:45)

"With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us, and to fight our battles.  And the people rested themselves upon the word of Hezekiah, king of Judah."  (2 Chronicles 32:8)

"Nearly three thousand years ago, the ultimate military weapons were the chariot and the horse.  Armies that could field a cavalry or chariot brigade were considered virtually invincible.

"But [God's chosen nation] was to be different.  God's law forbade her king to multiply horses (Deuteronomy 17:16).  Rather than put her confidence in strategic arms,  [she] was to trust in the everlasting arms, for God had promised to fight for His people.  That is why David's affirmation of trust in a delivering God is so appropriate."

A=  David knew experientially that God would preserve his life.  He knew that God would not only hear from His holy heaven, but He would act with the saving strength of His right hand.  others might trust in their great numbers of horses and chariots, but as for David, he would trust in the name of the LORD his God.

I too have seen God work in my life.  I know that He hears when I call to Him and He will bring help and deliverance.  Because I have seen Him work in the past, I can trust Him for the future.

The site Bible Hub notes that the phrase "but we will trust in the name of the LORD our God" "emphasizes a profound faith and reliance on God rather than on human means. The 'name of the LORD' signifies His character, authority, and power. Trusting in God's name implies a deep relationship and confidence in His ability to deliver and protect. This trust is a recurring theme throughout Scripture ... The contrast between human reliance and divine trust is a central message, encouraging believers to place their faith in God's eternal power rather than transient human strength."

"The safest protection in all the world is the name of God. When you know His name, you know His nature. His names and titles reveal His nature. They tell us who He is and what He can do. For example, He is Jehovah, the God who makes covenants. He is the Lord, the sovereign king. He is Jesus, the Savior. Each name He bears is a blessing He bestows on us." -- Warren Wiersbe

P= "Lord, I thank and praise You so much for the privilege of prayer and for the surety of answered prayer.  You not only hear when I call, but You answer and act on my behalf with the saving strength of Your right hand.  I can put all of my trust in Your magnificent name!  Help me never to be tempted to put my trust in temporal things, in other people, or in myself, but in You alone.  I pray in Jesus' name, Amen."

Reflection Question:  David knew that others were trusting in their horses and chariots for success.  David contrasts their trust in things with his trust in God.

Sometimes we can be tempted to trust in something other than God to give us success -- like our intelligence, money, or even another person.  What are you tempted to trust in other than God?

My response: In general I don't think that at this point in life, I am tempted to trust in anything other than God.  Things I could be tempted to trust in -- maybe my own thoughts and ideas, possibly?  But the Bible tells me that the one who trusts in his own heart is a fool.  This truth helps -- or maybe a better word would be pushes -- me to remember that I am nothing in and of myself.

And there is our very simple study of Psalm 20:6-7.   I hope it's been a blessing!

Sunday Scripture

 

 So today for Sunday Scripture we're continuing my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal I'm using here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I've been attempting to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 19.   The featured verse is verse 14.  Here we go!

S= "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."  (Psalm 19:14)

O= Verses 1 through 6 of Psalm 19 speak of God's glory as seen in creation, particularly the heavens.  Verses 7 through 11 speak of the purity and effectiveness of God's Word.  In verse 11 David begins to make it personal, noting that God's servant is warned and instructed by God's Word, and finds great reward in obeying it.  In verses 12 through 14 David asks God to cleanse him from secret faults, protect him from sinning presumptuously, and for his thoughts and words to be acceptable and pleasing to Him. 

Now for some cross-references for verse 14.

Cross-reference for "Let the words ... " -- "Lord, open Thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise."  (Psalm 51:5)

Cross-reference for "strength" -- "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress ... my strength ... my high tower."  (Psalm 18:2)

"Strength" in the Hebrew literally means "rock".

Cross-references for "redeemer" -- "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth."  (Job 19:25)

"Draw near unto my soul, and redeem it; deliver me because of mine enemies."  (Psalm 69:18)

"And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto those who turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD."  (Isaiah 59:20)

A=  Considering God's glory as revealed in the heavens shifts my perspective every time.  Considering the purity and effectiveness of His Word does a work in my own heart.  If I meditate on God's Word, pay attention to its warnings, and obey His precepts, I will find great reward.  I will, like David, desire for my thoughts and words to be acceptable and pleasing to Him.

"If God is your Redeemer, He can be your Strength. Live acceptably in His sight, allowing the meditation of your heart to please Him. Then your life will be what He wants it to be. God is more than the God of creation and the Scriptures; He is the God of redemption. If your heart is filled with Him and yielded to Him, you can have victory over sin. Don't simply worship the God of nature. Get into the Word of God and let God get into you." -- Warren Wiersbe 

 

Enjoy this beautiful song extolling our Rock and our Redeemer!
 

P= "Lord, how thankful I am that You are my rock and my redeemer!  It is unfathomable that the Creator of the universe should care about me and make a way for relationship with me.  And that You would give Your pure Word to show Your redeemed children how to live -- that is simply above and beyond my finite mind's ability to comprehend.  I praise You that I have Your help and direction and strength as I seek for my thoughts and words to be acceptable in Your sight.  I pray that You will guide me in pursuing this standard, and help me to keep short accounts with You throughout each day.  I thank You for all You have done and will do, in Jesus' name, Amen."

As David reflects on the glory of God as seen in creation and the purity of God seen in His Word, he then reflects on himself.  David closes this psalm by reflecting on his words and his heart.  His one desire is to be acceptable in God's sight.

Take a moment and reflect on your own words this week.  Then reflect on your heart's desires.  Is there anything you need to confess or surrender to  God?  Write out a humble prayer of confession below.

My response: The more I dig into God's Word, the more there is to learn!  I'm not sure that I've ever considered this psalm as a whole before, but I look forward to doing so in a more in-depth study of psalms down the road.  I'm very familiar with Psalm 19.  I've loved and memorized verses 1 through 6, sung and memorized verses 7 through 11, and memorized verses 12 through 14.  But thinking about it as a whole, as a progression, and looking how it all fits together, is new to me.

My prayer: "Lord, there are so many times when my thoughts or words fall short of what You would have them to be.  I praise You that Your Word is pure and tried and teaches me so clearly how You would have me to think and speak.  Forgive me for the many times when I speak before thinking, and help me to stop and think and pray before I speak.  I pray in Jesus' name, Amen."

And there is our very simple study of Psalm 19:14.  If this simple study whets your appetite to learn more, go ahead and dig into Psalm 19 on your own.  You are sure to be blessed!

Sunday Scripture

  So today for Sunday Scripture we're continuing my simple study of Psalms.  

You can see a copy of the journal I'm using here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I've been attempting to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 18.   The featured verse is verse 2, but I chose to SOAP verses 1 through 3.  Here we go!

S= "I will love Thee, O LORD, my Strength.
"The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
""I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from mine enemies."  (Psalm 18:1-3)

O= C. I. Scofield titles Psalm 18:"Praise to the God who delivers His own".  The biblical heading for this psalm is "To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spoke unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said ..."

Interestingly, this very lengthy heading or title has cross-references of its own.  

Cross-references for "servant of the LORD" -- "To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD."  (Heading of Psalm 36)

"I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn unto David, My servant."  (Psalm 89:3)

"I have found David, My servant; with My holy oil have I anointed him."  (Psalm 89:20)

"Now, then, do it; for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of My servant David I will save my people, Israel, out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies."  (2 Samuel 3:18)

Go and tell My servant, David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build Me an house for Me to dwell in?"  (2 Samuel 7:5)

Cross-reference for "spoke unto the LORD" -- "And David spoke unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul."  (2 Samuel 22:1)

A marginal note for 2 Samuel 22 states, "This chapter is almost identical with Psalm 18."

Cross-references for "song" -- "Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spoke, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for He hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea."  (Exodus 15:1)

"And Moses spoke in the ears of all the congregation of  Israel the words of this song, until they were ended."  (Deuteronomy 31:30)

Now, on to the cross-references in the actual psalm.

Cross-reference for "strength" (v.1) -- "Blessed be the LORD, my strength, who teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight."  (Psalm 144:1)

Cross-references for "rock" (v. 2) -- "For who is God, save the LORD?  Or who is a rock, save our God?"  (Psalm 18:31)

"The LORD liveth, and blessed be my rock, and let the God of my salvation be exalted."  (Ps. 18:46)

"For Thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Thy sake lead me and guide me."  (Psalm 31:3)

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer."  (Psalm 19:14)

Cross-references for "fortress" (v.2) --  "I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God; in Him will I trust."  (Psalm 91:2)

"My goodness, and my fortress;  my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield; and He in whom I trust, who subdueth my people under me."  (Psalm 144:2)

Cross-reference for "in whom I will trust" (v. 2) --  "And again, I will put my trust in Him."  (Hebrews 2:13a)

Cross-references for "shield" (v. 2) -- "After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram; I am thy shield, and thy exceedingly great reward."  (Genesis 15:1)

"As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is proved; He is a shield to all those who put their trust in Him."  (Psalm 18:30)

Cross-references for "horn of my salvation" --  "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He hath visited and redeemed His people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant, David."  (Luke 1:68-69)

Cross -reference for "high tower" (v .2) -- "The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble."  (Psalm 9:9)

For "worthy to be praised" (v. 3) -- "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness. (Psalm 48:1)

"For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods."  (Psalm 96:4)

"From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised."  (Psalm 113:3)

"Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable."  (Psalm 145:3)

A= These are the words of King David, yet every one of them rings true for me.  I too love the Lord.  He is my strength, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, the One in whom I trust, my shield, the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.  He is worthy to be praised!  He has saved me from my greatest enemy, Satan! It occurs to me that in a very real sense our salvation testimony serves as our personal "song of deliverance".

We can take these titles for God personally.  He will be all of this and more to us, and He will provide deliverance for us as we look to Him.  I will and do call upon Him daily.  He is able to deliver me from all my enemies.

P= "Lord, I cannot thank and praise You enough for all that You are to me.  I praise You for all the reasons that David listed in Psalm 18.  I am especially thankful that You have delivered me from Satan, my greatest and mortal enemy.

"You are my salvation -- and my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my high tower!  You are my strength -- and Your joy has been my strength through countless hard situations.  I love You, O LORD my strength!  And I pray in Jesus' strengthening name, Amen."

Reflection question: David wrote this psalm of praise, celebrating the victory that God gave him over all his enemies.

What is an example of a victory that God gave you and how was He your rock during that time?

My response:  I can think of many different times like this, but one I will cite was during a season of eldercare looking after both my parents.  They needed a great deal of help and we had an agency staying nights with them, but I spent time several days each week cooking, cleaning, and shoring them up in general.  Many times I drove there beseeching God for His joy to be my strength.  It always was!

And there is our very simple study of Psalm 18.  I hope it was a blessing!

Some goals for June

 

Time to set some goals for June!  As always, some are specific to this month,  and many are ongoing.  Here goes:

* Keep up with Flylady's homemaking zones of the week

* Spend a Saturday evening around a campfire with our young friends at our cottage

* Take a scenic mountain train ride with friends

* Post in this blog as often as possible 

* Post in my Christmas blog as often as possible

* Continue planning and making Christmas gifts and decor

* Continue planning for family birthday gifts and crafting any handmade ones

* Continue studying and preparing for my Sunday Scripture blog posts

* Read through the June passages of the Daily Walk Bible

* Get together with extended family while my hubby's sister is here from Florida

* Plan meals with a greater emphasis on healthy eating

* Get early light each morning

* Get to bed by 8:30 each night we are at home

* Drink enough water each day

* Walk and/or exercise at least 4 times each week

*  Celebrate the fourth anniversary of our church merger with a dinner and special service

* Continuing preparing for and teaching a ladies Sunday School class

* Prepare a good number of new listings for my Etsy shop

* Work at our volunteer jobs as needed

* Work on typing a manuscript

* Seek to encourage friends by email and phone chats

* Figure out finishes for some completed cross-stitch and embroidery projects

HEALTHY HABITS FOR JUNE:  Drink more water/get more sleep/exercise daily/intermittent fasting/limit carbs/get morning light

WORD FOR 2026: Intentional

And there you have it -- a few goals for June 2026!

Sunday Scripture

Well, we made it through Fix Your Focus!  So today we're jumping back into my simple study of Psalms.  

You can see a copy of the journal here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I've been attempting to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 17.   The featured verse is verse 8, but I chose to SOAP verses 6 through 8.

S= "I have called upon Thee, for Thou wilt hear me, O God; incline Thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
"Show Thy marvelous loving-kindness, O Thou who savest by Thy right hand those who put their trust in Thee, from those who rise up against them.
"Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me under the shadow of Thy wings."  (Psalm 17:6-8)

O=  In the Scofield study Bible, C.I. Scofield titles Psalm 17 "Reliance upon God".  My copy of the ESV Bible titles Psalm 17 "In the shadow of Your wings".  The biblical heading for this psalm is "A Prayer of David".

Cross-references for "called upon Thee" (v.6) -- "Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer, and attend to the voice of my supplications.  In the day of my trouble I will call upon Thee, for Thou wilt answer me."  (Psalm 86:6-7)

"I love the LORD, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications.  Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live."  (Psalm 116:1-2)

Cross-reference for "incline Thine ear unto me" (v.6) -- "Bow down Thine ear to me; deliver me speedily.  Be Thou my strong rock, for an house of defense to save me."  (Psalm 31:2)

Cross-reference for "Show Thy marvelous loving-kindness" (v.7) -- "Blessed be the LORD, for He hath shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city."  (Psalm 31:27)

Cross-references for "those who rise up against them" (v.7) -- "Through Thee will we push down our enemies; through Thy name will we tread them under, who rise up against us."  (Psalm 44:5)

"Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God; defend me from those who rise up against me."  (Psalm 59:1)

Cross-references for "the apple of the eye" (v.8) -- "He found him in a desert land, and in the waste, howling wilderness; He led him about, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye."  (Deuteronomy 32:10)

"For thus saith the LORD of hosts: After the glory hath He sent me unto the nations which spoiled you; for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye."  (Zechariah 2:8)

Cross-references for "the shadow of Thy wings" (v.8) -- "How excellent is Thy loving-kindness, O God!  Therefore, the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings."  (Psalm 36:7)

"Yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities are passed by."  (Psalm 57:1b)

"Because Thou hast been my help, therefore, in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice."  (Psalm 63:7)

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not."  (Luke 13:34)

"He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust."  (Psalm 91:4a)

"The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings though art come to trust."  (Ruth 2:12)

A= We can call upon God, knowing that He will incline His ear to us and hear us.   He will show us His marvelous loving-kindness.  

He saves by His right hand.
He saves those who put their trust in Him.
He saves them from those who rise up against them.
He will protect believers as the pupil of the eye is protected.
He will shelter us as believers under His wings.

P= "Lord, I'm so thankful that we can call upon You, knowing that You will incline Your ear to us and that You will answer us.  This psalm tells us so much about Your loving-kindness, Your power and protection.  I am so thankful for each of these attributes and for how You bring them to bear on our lives and situations.  

I praise You for the many times You have protected me --  even times when I might not have been aware of danger -- and I know I can trust You to do so in the future.

In Jesus' name, Amen."

 The picture of the believer's safety under God's wings has always been such a precious one to me.  As I studied these verses, the hymn Under His Wings, which has long been a favorite of mine, came to my mind often:

This hymn was written by W.O. Cushing.  Rob Morgan writes:

 "Rev. W. O. Cushing was hard at work in his New York church when, still in his forties, he suffered a paralysis that affected his voice. 'O Lord, give me something to do for Thee,' he prayed. He started writing hymns, and soon his silenced voice was replaced with thousands of other voices singing [many] of his three hundred hymns. When Cushing was seventy-three, Ira Sankey sent him a message, asking for 'something new to help me in my Gospel work.' After reading 'Hide me under the shadow of Your wings' in Psalm 17:8, Cushing penned this famous hymn, which Sankey set to music."

Reflection question: The "apple of Your eye" and the "shadow of Your wings" are two pictures that powerfully describe God's care for His people in danger.  The pupil of the eye is the most sensitive part of the eye and the most protected.  A mama bird protects her helpless little ones, with her wings.

In the midst of David's fears, he prayed.  Is there something you are fearful about today?  Pray and talk to God about your fears.  Looking back, how has God faithfully protected you in times of trouble?

My response: There is nothing I am truly fearful about today, though our country is in a pretty unsettled situation and things could easily become more concerning for believers.

I have definitely experienced God's protection in times of trouble, though I often felt vulnerable and even threatened.  God's Word was a tremendous encouragement, and God Himself was absolutely my refuge.

And there is our very simple study of Psalm 17.  I hope it was a blessing!

 

Sunday Scripture

 

Time for another Sunday Scripture lesson from Fix Your Focus!  In fact, this is the very last lesson from Fix Your Focus!  I can hardly believe I've worked through 52 weeks of this!  It's been good -- very good -- to get my focus fixed firmly on God and I may well consider making some of these disciplines a regular part of every week. 

This week's lesson was actually done by me the week of May 11.  Here goes ...

🌿 WEEK-AT-A-GLANCE CHECKLIST is further on in each week's section. But since I am working on Fix Your Focus all week long, I find it works best for me to do this checklist first. This checklist offers us four points:  

* To make a plan for reading our Bibles and praying.

* To add any upcoming events to our calendars.

* To jot down a to-do list of tasks that must be completed this week.

* To make a note of our top three priorities for this week.

This last point is one that I need to pay special attention to every week.  I've been finding it so helpful.  (The other three points are things that I'm consistently doing.) 

For this week, my top three priorities are:

1) Ministry  --  TWNE Monday and Tuesday; talk with Rebekah Thursday;  Sunday School and blog post preparation.

2)  Cleaning -- at our camp on Thursday.

3) Time with friends-- on Saturday.

[If you are following along with our study, this is the place to make a Week-at-a-Glance checklist and/or priority list for yourself!]

🌿 The first actual prompt for each week is JOURNAL.  We are encouraged to take a few minutes to our fears, joys, worries, desires and stressors concerning the week ahead.  [If you are following along with us, take a moment in a journal or notebook to do just that.]. Here's what I wrote on Monday, breaking it down into the suggested categories:

Fears: No real fears going into this week -- except maybe running out of energy! 

Joys: Ministry is always a joy, and if we can serve God's purposes here at TWNE, it is a huge blessing and joy to be used in this way.  It's always a joy to open up our cottage for the season, and it'll be a joy to spend Saturday with friends.

Worries: I try not to worry, as Jesus commanded us not to.  Certainly, I have concerns, such as health issues or things left undone at home, but I'm not worried about these things. 

Desires: That God will be glorified in the events of this week.  That I could be of maximum help at TWNE.  That we can be a real encouragement to our young friends on Saturday.

Stressors:  Time constraints.  Other people.  The aches and pains and diminished energy of aging.

🌿 The next prompt is PRAYER. It was suggested that we use several prayer prompts to have a conversation with God about the week ahead.  [You can do the same.  Use the very same prompts for your own prayer.]

* Lord, You are ...in full control of this week and all of its events.  You are aware of every one of my concerns and stressors, and You are able to help me handle every one.  You are aware of how busy life is right now, You are with us in our busyness, and You are able to give me the energy and the wisdom to handle each task.

* Lord, I feel ... really, really tired by this point in May.  I feel overwhelmed by all that there is to do.  Yet I feel confident that You will help me to accomplish all that must be done and that You will give guidance as to what can temporarily be left undone.

* Lord, help me with ... all that needs to happen this week.  I know that in busy seasons I don't always eat with health or energy in mind, and I need Your help with that.  Help me to maintain the healthy habits that will impact my energy levels positively.  Help me in my interactions with people.  I've always disliked it when old people feel they can say whatever they want and be outrageously outspoken just because they are old.  Now I'm beginning to understand where some of them may have been coming from!  Honestly I am tired of tiptoeing around difficult people and choosing my words carefully so as not to offend.  I'm too tired to deal with all that.  BUT Your Word teaches me that You want me to be careful with my speech -- that it matters very much to You how Your people speak.  So I pray that You will help me with this.

* Lord, forgive me for ... times when I fall into emotional eating.  Times when I allow other people to stress me out.  Times when I don't take the care with my words that I should.

* Make a note of 4 or 5 people you are specifically praying for.  I listed friends dealing with a cancer diagnosis; another couple with health needs and medical testing related to those; a young mom and her kids dealing with a very painful situation.

🌿 The next section in this helpful guide is SCRIPTURE MEDITATION.  I chose to first meditate on this week's Scripture, John 14:1, using the SOAP method, and then answered several suggested questions.   [You can use your own preferred method to meditate on this verse, and answer the questions below for yourself.]

S= "Let us, therefore, some boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."  (Hebrews 4:16)

O=    In the Amplified Bible, this verse reads:
"Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]."

"Let us, therefore ... what is this word there for?  Looking at the preceding verses, we see the reminder in verse 14 that "we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God" and verse 15 adds that we have not an high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are."  It's in light of these wonderful, encouraging facts that we can come boldly to the throne of grace.

"We have a high priest who can relate to our weaknesses and has overcome all our temptations. Because of that unique relationship, we can “approach the throne of grace with confidence” to receive help whenever we need it–whether it’s grace when we suffer or mercy when we stumble."  -- Today in the Word

 Cross-references for "Let us come boldly" --"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water ."  (Hebrews 10:22)

"For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did, by which we draw near unto God."  (Hebrews 7:19)

Cross-references for "boldly" -- "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus."  (Hebrews 10:19)

"In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him."  (Ephesians 3:12)

A= So as believers, we can come confidently to God's throne at any time of need in our lives, assured that He will extend mercy to us and give us grace to help any situation we may face.

The lyrics of Charles Wesley's traditional hymn Arise My Soul Arise say it perfectly: 

 Arise, my soul, arise;
Shake off the guilty fears;
The bleeding Sacrifice
In my behalf appears:
Before the throne my Surety stands,
Before the throne my Surety stands:
My name is written on His hands.

He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead:
His blood atoned for all our race,
His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.

Five bleeding wounds He bears,
Received on Calvary;
They pour effectual pray'rs,
They strongly plead for me:
"Forgive him, O forgive, " they cry,
"Forgive him, O forgive, " they cry,
"Nor let that ransomed sinner die!"

My God is reconciled;
His pard'ning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child;
I can no longer fear;
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And, "Father, Abba, Father, " cry.

"When entering the prayer chamber, we must come filled with faith and armed with courage. Nowhere else in the whole field of religious thought and activity is courage so necessary as in prayer. The successful prayer must be one without condition. We must believe that God is love and that, being love, He cannot harm us but must ever do us good. Then we must throw ourselves before Him and pray with boldness for whatever we know our good and His glory require, and the cost is no object! Whatever He in His love and wisdom would assess against us, we will accept with delight because it pleases Him. Prayers like that cannot go unanswered. The character and reputation of God guarantee their fulfillment." -- A.W. Tozer

An online commentator with Precept Austin wrote,  "In time of need (eukairos) does not merely mean 'when we need it' in a vague sense, but means God’s grace arrives at the exact strategic moment, neither too soon nor too late. It is seasonable help and perfectly fitted to the occasion. Think of it as 'just-in-time grace' or 'just in the nick of time grace!' God’s mercy and grace are not generic or 'cookie cutter' but personally tailored to arrive in the precise 'amount' and at the precise season of our trial. The sense is 'grace for timely help, at the critical moment of pressure, temptation, or weakness'.”

To help with my application of this verse, I answered the three questions from Fix your Focus:

* Reflect on what this verse tells you about who God is.

He is the King of Kings whose throne is a throne of grace.  He is a merciful God and the God of grace.  He is our Helper, always available to help His children in time of need.

* Think about what this verse tells you about who you are.

I'm a sinner saved by God's grace, constantly in need of His mercy and help.

* Throughout the week, consider how this verse should affect the way you live.

 I should bring all my concerns and petitions boldly and confidently to the throne of grace, knowing that I will obtain mercy there and will find God's grace to help me in any and every time of need.  I can be confident in this!

There is so much incredible truth, so many deeply meaningful words, in Hebrews 4:16 that any attempt by me to dig into it all will fall miserably short.  I encourage you to take some time and study this verse out for yourselves.

P= "Lord,   How I thank and praise You that You, our great High Priest, so tenderly relate to the feelings of our infirmities, having been tempted Yourself by the same things that tempt us

I praise You that because of these astounding facts, I can come confidently to Your throne and find the grace to help me in my times of need.

"I pray that You will help me to live each day in light of these marvelous, comforting truths.  Help me to bring every need confidently to Your throne of kingly grace, knowing that Your mercy will meet me there.  I thank and praise You in Jesus' name,  Amen."

🌿 GRATITUDE is the next prompt.  We were to reflect on the way God has shown His faithfulness to you over the past week and list five things we are thankful for.  [If you are following along with us, be sure to make your own list of five things!]. Here is my list:

1) Wisdom and time to have a conference call with Delta regarding a complicated transaction involving SkyMiles and E-credits.  .

2) God providing the exact right agent to walk us through the transaction and achieve the best outcome.

3) Being able to attend our granddaughter's symphony concert on Mother's Day afternoon.

4) Time, insight and energy to set up an Etsy sale, even though it resulted in only one order.

5) A delightful Mother's Day, with supper out after the concert, then cake and ice cream for our son-in-law's birthday.

🌿 SPIRITUAL GROWTH is the next prompt, and this week there's an emphasis on FELLOWSHIP.  We were to plan a time to fellowship with friends this week.  [And again, if you are following along, please think about this for yourself.]

We planned a wonderful day with friends for the Saturday -- breakfast out at an iconic mountain pancake hours; thrifting in our town; then afternoon and a hot dog roast at our little cottage. 

🌿 Lastly is a GOSPEL-CENTERED AFFIRMATION: 

In Jesus, I will find gracious help at the throne of God.

What a wonderful encouragement to take into the week ahead!  Whatever challenges come our way this week, we can come confidently to God's throne, where He promises us mercy and grace to help in our time of need.

And there's the Sunday Scripture for this week!