Psalm 91 has been running on repeat all day! I not only love this passage for it’s bold, direct, “no excuses” – instruction for finding peace in God but also because a catchy tune and accompanying hand motions flood my mind each time I read it. It’s cachy enough to be stuck there for hours which I am actually grateful for. I first learned it with my fellow “Ministry Team-ers” (a childrens church group) when I was 10ish. I grew up engulfed in every creative, singing, dancing and acting ministry of my charasmatic mega-church. I have mostly fond memories of it there. Those years were filled with marathon weeks of ministry, going from one exhausting act of servanthood to the next. I always had this feeling that if I said no to something God would be frowning on my selfishness. I’m prone to striving by nature but growing up in an environment where serving God meant tirelessly striving to do “enough" definitely helped cement my ideaology. Eventually becoming burned out, I constantly battled feelings of failure and a perception that God always expected more out of me. I kinda always pictured him being disapointed in me. After years of restling with my view of God, feeling like I never measured up and accepting major failures in my life, I’m learning that God’s expectations are not what I thought.
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46.10
I love that God knows me well enough to personalize his lesson plans for my life. He repeats each lesson over and over, louder and more clear each time untill I start to get it. Currently the chapter in my book is titled “Dwell” and the subtitle reads “Be Still”. This theme has shown up all week, in my mind, my quiet time, staff devotions and conversations. As I dive into the World Race it’s easy for me to get consumed planning and organizing the million elements involved. Between researching vaccinations, fund raising, selecting gear and countless other tasks, sitting still before God and just being in His presence is a serious discipline! This is hard for me to do under normal circumstances but preparing for an 11 month packpacking trip to 11 countries makes it nearly impossible!
Psalm 91
1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
shall rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
I’ve had unexplainable peace about leaving everything behind to face completely unknown circumstances. Living like a nomad could be no further from what I had planned out for my 25thyear of life yet I’m peaceful. That said… Do I battle against my own nature to gain control? DAILY! Do I struggle to give it all up and embark without expectations? YES!
In case you’re not seeing the pattern, here are some of my core issues. I set expectations and then strive to meet them. I like to know what I’m in for so I can have a game plan, I’d like to think I’m a pretty good planner. Often in the waiting stages of my life, when God’s plan hasn’t been revealed, I map one out myself! I carefully align it with scripture and what I hope He has for my life while including ambitions I think He’ll appreciate. Once all the details are mentally in place, I present it to Him like He’s been too busy to map one out Himself. It’s like, “I just thought I’d lighten your load a bit Lord… um, just check this out and let me know what you think” (this said in 'valley girl tone" even though I've picked up a southern girl accent here in GA)! I’m thinking He’ll be impressed with my attention to detail and grant my every wish…. He of coarse, graciously redirects me toward the plan He has had for me since before I was even created. Those details that I loose sleep over are actually thought out by a loving creater, a God who chose to protect and provide for me! God is the ultimate event planner and despite my tireless efforts to be hired on as His assistant, He works alone!
I’m slowly starting the get the concept that He instructs us to dwell in Him not only to brings Him delight but so He can bring us peace! While I’m striving to be better, more impressive and more accomplished, He is imploring me to rest, be still and DWELL in Him. That instruction comes with promises.
3Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14“Because he[b]loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Here’s what I’m hearing … vs. 9-10 “If you say, ‘the Lord is my refuge’ and you make the most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you and no disaster will come near your tent.” AMEN, Preach it David because my tent is going to need almighty protection from ALL kinds of ungodly creatures (I may or may not wake up from nightmares of cockroaches invading my tent)! Here’s what He promises to be to you if you will dwell in Him:
- Refuge
- Fortress
- Shelter
- Rescuer
- Protector
- Fafithful
- Shield
- Guardian
I love that God doesn’t just command obedience while keeping us at a distance. He makes us promises. That communicates Love, He wants us to rest assured that He’s got this! He wants an intimacy from our relationship that produces trust, resulting in following Him with reckless abandonment . If we really knew the promises He has made us and believed He would keep them, striving and planning would be crazy to us. If we believe our lives are secure in His hands then our only job is to dwell in Him, get to know Him and share that story! That is where we will find peace for the incredible adventure He wants to take us on.
I must wrap up with telling you again that this is a lesson I’m learning! I welcome your feedback on what God's doing in your life and look forward to learning from your journey. My hope is to be able to transparently share in a way that would glorify God in what He’s choosing to do in my life!
With Love,
Alisha
