The Three R's...no wait. The FIVE R's

A while ago I asked my friends on Facebook to give me a go to scripture. I was weary, burdened, my heart hurt and my emotions were so very low. Over 25 friends took time to respond and in no particular order I am meditating on the scriptures that they shared and also praying for them at the same time. 

So first will you join me and pray for my friend Mary Alice . Lord  we lift Mary Alice and her sweet family up to you. I ask that you keep them safe and that their life be filled with love and laughter. I praise you for Mary Alice hearing that small still voice and offering me a Word from our  Lord in my time of need.  I thank you for her faithfulness and prayers. Amen.

 OK, so Mary Alice suggested Psalm 31


Psalm 31[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
    let me never be put to shame;
    deliver me in your righteousness.
Turn your ear to me,
    come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
    a strong fortress to save me.
Since you are my rock and my fortress,
    for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
Keep me free from the trap that is set for me,
    for you are my refuge.
Into your hands I commit my spirit;
    deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.
I hate those who cling to worthless idols;
    as for me, I trust in the Lord.
I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
    for you saw my affliction
    and knew the anguish of my soul.
You have not given me into the hands of the enemy
    but have set my feet in a spacious place.
Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;
    my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
    my soul and body with grief.
10 My life is consumed by anguish
    and my years by groaning;
my strength fails because of my affliction,[b]
    and my bones grow weak.
11 Because of all my enemies,
    I am the utter contempt of my neighbors
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
    those who see me on the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten as though I were dead;
    I have become like broken pottery.
13 For I hear many whispering,
    “Terror on every side!”
They conspire against me
    and plot to take my life.
14 But I trust in you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in your hands;
    deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
    from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine on your servant;
    save me in your unfailing love.
17 Let me not be put to shame, Lord,
    for I have cried out to you;
but let the wicked be put to shame
    and be silent in the realm of the dead.
18 Let their lying lips be silenced,
    for with pride and contempt
    they speak arrogantly against the righteous.
19 How abundant are the good things
    that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,
    on those who take refuge in you.
20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them
    from all human intrigues;
you keep them safe in your dwelling
    from accusing tongues.
21 Praise be to the Lord,
    for he showed me the wonders of his love
    when I was in a city under siege.
22 In my alarm I said,
    “I am cut off from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
    when I called to you for help.
23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people!
    The Lord preserves those who are true to him,
    but the proud he pays back in full.
24 Be strong and take heart,
    all you who hope in the Lord.

refuge:  to retreat, shelter, protection from danger

rescue: to free or save from danger

rejoice: to be glad, happy or delighted

righteousness: the quality or condition of being righteousness or just 

redeem me: to buy back, to set free, ransom or rescue

In my shame and darkest hours the Lord pulled me close. He listened to the whispers of my soul. I have become like broken pottery. He saw this distress. He was my rock and my refuge. So was my bed and my home. I hit out for a month. He saw the afflictions I was enduring and he soothed the anguish of my soul. 
My body was weak, my heart was broken. I yelled out I only trust YOU LORD. Put the wickedness in my life to shame Lord. I thought and felt alone yet all the time the Lord was there for me. He kept his eye on me even when I took my eyes off of HIM. The Lord runs to the faithful but the proud shall be paid back in full. 

Be strong and take heart all you who hope in the Lord. 

It took me a month and a half of laying in bed and hiding out to know all I needed was the FIVE R's- Refuge, Rescue, Rejoice, righteousness and redeeming! :) 
amen

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