Where do you run ...

In some suburbs we have identified houses which are termed safe houses. A place of refuge for any children going to school or returning home after school, for whatever reason might feel, or sense they are unsafe. These are places where someone is known (usually) to be home between these hours. These people are trusted. They will provide a safe place, a listening ear, comfort and act upon the threat that exists.

That is what came to mind for me as I read the following:

Psalm 143:1-12 (New Living Translation)

A psalm of David.

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord;

listen to my plea!

Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.

2 Don’t put your servant on trial,

for no one is innocent before you.

3 My enemy has chased me.

He has knocked me to the ground

and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave.

4 I am losing all hope;

I am paralyzed with fear.

5 I remember the days of old.

I ponder all your great works

and think about what you have done.

6 I lift my hands to you in prayer.

I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain.

7 Come quickly, Lord, and answer me,

for my depression deepens.

Don’t turn away from me,

or I will die.

8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning,

for I am trusting you.

Show me where to walk,

for I give myself to you.

9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord;

I run to you to hide me.

10 Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God.

May your gracious Spirit lead me forward

on a firm footing.

11 For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life.

Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.

12 In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies

and destroy all my foes,

for I am your servant.

And especially this verse:  9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me.

I think it is important to know where to go when we are feeling uncomfortable in some situation. A place where we can feel accepted. Where someone can care for us. Where someone can set us on the right path. A place where it is safe. And I certainly believe there is no place where that is more applicable than if we were run int the presence of God. We can do this because He is faithful and righteous. We can do this because of His unfailing love.

Let us trust in Him in the ups and lows of life, and know Him to be our safe refuge and place of acceptance.

What do you proclaim ...

Do you love the Psalms? I know they are often a place of inspiration for me. Often times when things have been tough I have found myself in them. I see them as being real, after all it is someonelses experience being related to us. I have many times spoken of this with others in relation to the fact that the experience is many times difficult, complicated, the Psalmist feels all alone, like everything, everyone is against him. He may even feel abandoned by God, and yet, by the closing of the verses there is that proclamation, You are my God, I will trust in You (or words to that effect).

Today I appreciated another reminder for me:

Psalm 92:2 (New Living Translation)

2 It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,

your faithfulness in the evening,

Here's what stood out for me. My proclaiming unfailing love of God in the morning is a step of faith. It is in a belief of what He is capable of, what I am believing in. It has maybe happened in the past that I have experienced this to be so, but I am again in belief that He will show up in the same manner. And it is in this light that I will live this day. Believing that God will be in it with me, loving me and loving through me.

In the evening my proclaiming His faithfulness, should be evident in how I lived this day. It ought to be a bearing testimony of my experience of this day.

Lord, help me to live true to Your unfailing love, in my life and through my life affecting the lives of others.

What sort of God ...

It is interesting to see how people see God. Have you noticed the amount who see Him as the "BIG Ogre". Out to get those who step out of line from the commandments (mostly), or some even think, just because He can. They want to blame Him for that which is wrong in the world (interesting when they don't actually believe in Him at all). Yet then, when things are extremely impactful upon them, they cry out to Him for help, "if You are there, help me!"

Poor Jonah. Here he is attempting to run from God and the task He has set him. Jonah must have thought he had gotten away with it when he got on the ship for Tarshish. And then the sea begins to buck and sway and all are afraid (apart from Jonah, asleep in the hold). And then he is thrown into the depths of the ocean, alone, turbulent and expectant that life would be snuffed from him I reckon. But then, who would have figured he would be swallowed by a big fish, still alive, for three days even. Well you probably know the story from here, the big fish spews Jonah up onto the beach, he ends up on Nineveh, preaches the message the Lord had for them there, and they repent.

Now we might have thought this was a pretty good outcome. Isn't that the reason that the Message, the Word, is preached? Not according to Jonah, he expected that if the people had been doing wrong and God says they are going to be wiped out for it, then they should be wiped out for it. Funny though, cause Jonah sort of knew the opposite was likely. He knew what God was capable of. Have a look:

Jonah 4:2 (New Living Translation)

2 So he complained to the Lord about it:

“Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord?

That is why I ran away to Tarshish!

I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God,

slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

You are eager to turn back from destroying people.

Now, I reckon you would rather this God that Jonah describes, than the one who is going to wipe out a load of people just because He can (well I suppose because they were disobedient).
 

Capture a moment the picture that these descriptive words - merciful, compassionate, slow to get angry, filled with unfailing love, forgiving. What a sensational God we worship and serve!

 

"Father, I not only desire to experience these attributes applied to my life, but have the message they teach imparted to others through my living. Help me to reflect You in my daily living - merciful, compassionate, slow to get angry, filled with unfailing love, forgiving."