Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 166: O Lord, My Strength

Good morning, everyone!

Today I read Psalms 17-20.

Today's focus will be on Psalm 18. Now, it's pretty long, so I'm only going to cover part of it today.

Psalm 18:1-3 - "I love You, O Lord, my strength." The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

Now, if a lot of David's psalms seem like cries for help, or thanks to God for deliverance, that's because they were. David spent many years on the run from Saul, who wanted to take his life (for this story, see 1st and 2nd Samuel), so he wrote a lot of psalms to God about deliverance.

But I just love David's psalms. Even when they begin with "Help!" they end with "But I will trust You," or "Thank You, Lord." They are a great example of how our prayers should go.

Even if we begin with pleas for help, or cries for deliverance from a situation, our prayers should always end with words of thanksgiving, praise, and gratitude. The storm is not all there is. God has done a lot for us. And at least part of our prayer - probably the beginning and the end - should be used for remembrance and gratitude for what God has already done, and just for who He is.

David's psalms are a great example of this.

God is our strength and our refuge. We can always come to Him, always cry out to Him, and He always hears us. He may not deliver us right away - even David had to wait a long time for his deliverance - but God always takes care of us, just as He took care of David.

The situation may be bad. It may seem like it's getting worse. But most of us don't have it as bad as David - running for our very lives.

When something goes wrong in my life, it often seems like the world is ending. But I have to remind myself that it's not. And that it could always be worse.

That's not always easy, when all I want to do is whine and complain, when all I want is for God to make it better right now.

But I'm learning to trust Him more with every new situation, whether it's bad or just makes me nervous.

I'm learning not to worry so much, though I can't help worrying a little.

I'm learning to pray better. To tell God how much I love Him, and how much I trust Him. How good He is. How faithful.

And you know what? Saying it aloud, makes me believe it more too. And the situation doesn't seem as bad.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Psalm 21-25.

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 75: God Always Keeps His Promises

Good evening, everyone!

Today I read Joshua 19-21.

We learn more about the territories given to each tribe.

And the cities of refuge are chosen.

Remember?

God said that there would be cities of refuge for someone who accidentally killed someone. They could go to a city of refuge, be tried by the priest, and if it was found that they hadn't premeditated the attack, they would be allowed to stay in that city as long as the priest lived, and no one could seek them out for revenge. After the priest who gave them refuge died, they were allowed to return home.

If someone sought revenge for an accidental death in a city of refuge, they were to be put to death.

And I find the concept of the cities of refuge very interesting.

Perhaps I'll do a more in-depth study after I finish my RBY challenge.

Also, I'd like to share the final verse of my reading today:

Joshua 21:45 - Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.

God did everything He said He would. He always does.

We can trust Him with everything because He's in charge of everything. And He never breaks His promises.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Joshua 22-24!

Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 57: Refuge

Good afternoon, everyone!

Today I read Numbers 35-36.

Something interesting I want to talk about today is the cities of refuge.

So, basically, if a man accidentally kills someone, with no malice intended, he can seek refuge in the cities of the Levites, and no one is allowed to come after him for revenge as long as he is there. He must stay until the priest who gave him refuge dies, however, then he is free to go back to his home. Before that time, if he ventures outside the city, vengeance can be taken upon him.

And this made me think of something interesting.

The main part of the church is called a sanctuary. Someone who has been abused or who is fleeing someone intent on harming them might seek sanctuary in a church.

The church is a sanctuary. A refuge. For everyone. We can go there to seek God. To find refuge in Him, and to find comfort in His Word.

But God is with us wherever we go, so if something bad is happening, we don't have to go to church to find Him. When we cry out to Him, He will meet us where we are.

We can seek sanctuary in Him, and in His Word anywhere we are.

And that's my connection today.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I begin the book of Deuteronomy.