I was with military wives, studying Beth Moore’s “Living Beyond Yourself”, when I heard Beth speak these words on the video, “These two things I know from Psalm 62—that God is strong, and that He is loving.” I immediately opened my Bible to read that psalm and get the context to that passage. . . because the simplicity, truth, and power of it cut right to my heart. During my quiet time the next day, I re-read Psalm 62 and “feasted” on the beautiful words of truth in verses 11 and 12: “One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that You, O God, are strong, and that You, O Lord, are loving.” As I pondered God’s demonstration of His love and His strength in my life, I was reminded of the song that I had just been singing the week before with my little granddaughter. You know it, and it goes like this: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong; they are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.”
“Where can I flee from Your presence?”
“That’s a great idea–I would have never thought of that!” A young Army wife had shared with me something she had done to help prepare her family for her husband’s upcoming deployment. Before her husband left for Iraq she had taken a picture of him with their children in each room of the house, and then framed them for displaying. The house was filled with Dad’s presence—reminders of times when they were together. This wife knew that in the days and months ahead there would be moments when both she and the kids would wonder—is he really real? He feels so far away—he is so far away! But the pictures were there to bring back the memories of his presence in their everyday lives.
Are there times when you wonder if God is real? Pause to consider His presence in your life. I believe that the psalmist was expressing just that when He wrote:
“Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Where can I flee from Your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, You are there;
If I make my bed in the depths, You are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
If I settle on the far side of the sea,
Even there your hand will guide me,
Your right hand will hold me fast.” —Psalm 139:7-10
It is His Word, His people, His creation, His faithfulness in our circumstances, His guiding hand, His Holy Spirit filling us that remind us of His presence! Just as this precious family in
Read the story of Jacob’s dream at Bethel in Genesis 28:10-22. The LORD reminds Jacob in this dream of His promises and the covenant in Genesis 12:2-3. Jacob awakes and his thought is of God’s presence: “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” What place are you in right now? Have you wondered if the LORD is with you, and you are not aware of it? He promises in Joshua 1:5, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” The truth is, if you are His child, you are never alone no matter where you are. And you have His Word on that!
Questions to share with each other:
1. How does the writer encourage you in Psalm 139?
2. How is God ministering to you during this war?
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