Trivia:
Well good guesses everyone, but just as I guessed, the correct answer to the question; Which president had a PHD? He was Woodrow Wilson.
Here's another head scratcher. Which is the highest denomination bill ever printed in the USA? $100,000; $100; $500; or $1,000, make your guess, Good Luck.
Challenge:
Psalm 55:1-7 "Listen to my prayer, O God. Do not ignore my cry for help! 2 Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles. 3 My enemies shout at me, making loud and wicked threats. They bring trouble on me and angrily hunt me down. 4 My heart pounds in my chest. The terror of death assaults me. 5 Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and I can't stop shaking. 6 Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! 7 I would fly far away to the quiet wilderness."
This Psalm should bring comfort to us when we face overwhelming concerns, and console us for feeling the way we do when we face lifes challenges.
First off, David is facing the greatest loss that anyone can experience, your own child rebelling against you, but worse yet, also gathering your most loyal friends and allies to be tricked into bringing harm and destruction to you. In this passage David faces the hardest struggle anyone can face, his own son strategically seeking to kill you, and worse yet, gathering your most intimate friends to share in that endeavor.
Look at this listing of losses that David is feeling:
Destructive Restlessness "I am overwhelmed by my troubles"
Distraction by shouts of his enemies "(even) My enemies shout at me"
Oppression by those enemies "making loud wicked threats" (bringing shame to you)
Feeling buried under piles of problems "They bring trouble on me"
Facing impending doom "angrily hunt me down"
Experiencing uncontrollable anxiety "My heart pounds in my chest"
Constant fear & shaking "I can't stop shaking"
Continuous desire to escape absolutely everything "Oh, that I had wings like a dove"
An insatiable appetite for peace, rest, quiet "I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness"
Do any of these descriptive feelings seem consistent with those things that are pressing in on your life?
Has the enemy tricked you into thinking, or being impressed with the thought that you are totally alone in this struggle? Or has he fooled you into thinking that even the hot, humid, dry, desert, could possibly sound inviting?
Now just how can we face these seemingly impossible feelings? You know, the times where sleep, peace of mind, fear, uncertainty, render you unable to sleep or even rest, etc. Yes, where there just seems to be no way out of this struggle.
Remember, If He fights against these ones who He faces, those who He has poured His love onto will be harmed or even destroyed.
What is the right answer? Oh my dear one, David found the place of refuge that he was seeking to find, Verse 16, "But I will call on (my all powerful, all knowing) God, and the LORD, (He) will rescue me."
SO GO WITH GOD don't just speak a few platitudes, no run to Him, cry out to Him, gather yourself to His caring arms, rest in His shelter, for He won't leave you uncared for, NO, HE WILL KEEP YOU and those who you love, and have even brought into this physical world, SAFE.
When you are faced with every sort of distress, remember, "The LORD will rescue you." "He hears your voice" "He will ... hear you and humble them" (those fears) This time of struggle will only cause you to intimately learn of the strength that only God can place in your day: morning, noon and night. Run to Him my dear one, for He alone can render you aide, and when you do run to Him, I promise you, He will meet you when you are at your lowest moment.
But you can't really know that, until you are there! Only then can you know His reassuring hand in your life at that lowest moment. He will be there, Oh it may seem that you can't deal with any more, but if you vs 22 "Give your burdens to the Lord, ... He will take care of you. ... He will not permit (you) the godly to slip or fall."
More tomorrow we will dig deeper in these promises, but for today, REST in HIS STRENGTH, assurance and care. Remember as Isaiah says, "He created all the stars, He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. ... not a single one is missing." or 2 Timothy 2:19 "He knows those who are His" if He can bring out billions of stars each night He will keep His eyes on YOU too.
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