November 11

From the third Psalm come words of assurance when one is feeling alone against much opposition. The King James Version puts it beautifully:

LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

“Selah” is repeated a lot in there – “Pause and think about this, meditate on it!” What enemies, maybe not even human, might be affecting your life this season? Thoughts? Pressures?  What ungodly entity has been biting into your sense of peace? “The lifter up of mine head” might even be interpreted as: “God lifts up my awareness and draws me far beyond the scramblings within my mind that keep me focused on things I can’t resolve anyway,” or “God pulls me out of the thought-rut of negativity and lifts my vision to new heights!” How does that happen? Well, literally, as the head of the Church is Christ, God always lifts Him up within the awareness of all believers when we worship and meditate on the greatness of our Lord and Savior. True worship can bring us all to a new sense of being embraced and included in God's immutable glory!

Pastor Lisa Bosworth