Happy New Year! Here’s hoping 2011 brings blessings galore! It’s Word Wednesday and part 4 of our look at the Psalms. I’ve got to tell you, I’m loving this Wednesday thing. Hearing what y’all have to say (in comments on the blog and off) really makes my day. And looking deeper at what God has said to me in His words reminds me how personal He really is. It’s so awesome! This week, Psalms 90-106 are on the calendar. Y’all ready?
Psalm 94:19 (NAS)–When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, your consolations delights my soul.
Okay, let me ask you something. How often do you get something in your head and let it start spinning like cotton candy? One little thought crystallizes and forms until there’s a mass of tangled sticky goo in your head that you just can’t get away from. Worries, fears, whatever… They obsess you until you figure out they’re whirling around in the back of your mind, even when the front of your mind is doing other things. And before long, they outgrow the back of your mind and take over the front, so whatever is “bothering you” is all you can think about.
Or is that just me?
Isn’t it amazing how often we forget to give it to God? What would happen if, when that first little sugar crystal of worry stuck to our thoughts, we took it to God? What if we let Him console us right from the start instead of getting in so deep it’s impossible to think of anything else? Hm. That’s a lesson I wish I could remember. It seems I let the noise in my head get quite loud sometimes. It’s been known to drown out my writing, drown out my prayers, drown out God’s answers, and drown out my joy. The first little niggling thought needs to go straight to God. He’s the master at consoling. Shouldn’t we let Him?
Okay, folks. Skip on down to the comments and share what God spoke to you this week. Oh, and I noticed Part 5 was exceptionally long, so I’ve decided to split it into Part 5a (Psalms 107-127) and Part 5b (108-150). Next week is Part 5a. Looking forward to hearing what you have to say!
-JB
Dawn Lucowitz says
Psalm 91:10-11 – then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
As we begin another new year, another year with my husband away, I find myself really finding comfort in these two verses. I pray every night that God will send his angels to protect my husband and the other Soldiers serving abroad. My prayer is always for physical safety, but it is also for many other things. I pray that the Lord will send a strong Christian friend to my husband. A physical body to provide friendship and wise counsel. Someone who can help him grow in faith and bring him closer to God. I pray over his worry and anxiety. I pray over his work. And possibly more than his safety I pray over his heart. I pray that he will know the Lord and seek him always. I pray that when he is lonely and sad, frustrated or annoyed, tired and overworked, that he would find comfort in the Lord. That he would seek Him and hear Him and know He is there right beside him every second of every day. That He sends angels to surround him to guard him in all his ways.
Jodie says
You know I personally loved this one, Dawn. I totally admire your faith. This was beautiful…
Jen says
Psalm 91:15- He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble.
What can I say? This verse is beyond comforting right now as I’m faced with having to make a major life decision. It’s one thing to know that God has a plan, but to know that I can call on Him when I inevitably struggle to trust in that plan, and that HE WILL ANSWER when I do…. well, it straight up blows me away! To know that He heard every prayer of my heart yesterday afternoon and that He responded by placing verses such as this one in my path this morning brings so much peace to my heart. I’m not any closer to an answer, but I sure am clinging to this verse! 🙂
Oh, and I love your analogy about the cotton candy…. SO TRUE! And thank you for breaking up Book 5. This challenge is way harder than I thought it’d be, but more Word Wednesdays sounds like a great plan!
Jodie says
Loving Word Wednesday. Have to confess it was all a God idea, not mine. 🙂 I’m already wondering what to do next year when we get through the whole Bible. Start over?
SO comforting to know he’s there and He already knows. Praying for you!
Sandy Rosser says
My husband, Kelly, was diagnosed with AML (acute myeloid leuekemia) on December 1, 2010. The cotton candy analogy is the precise way I first felt when we started chemotherapy. I have to tell you, Jodie, that your blog bother inspired and blessed me during that uncertain time in my life. After about a week of that “cotton candy” mentality, I knew I had to do something or completely go insane. Giving it all to God felt, for me, like I do when I can shower after getting out of the salty ocean (or washing my hands after I’ve eaten some of that sticky cotton candy). I felt refreshed and renewed with hope. I know you were praying for us, Jodie, and God has answered our collective prayers for Kelly. We are home and doing well. His prognosis is good. God is good — all the time, even when His answer is “no.” THANK YOU FOR THIS BLOG!
Jodie says
I don’t know what to say, Sandy. So glad Kelly is home and mending and that God is so amazing. You have no earthly idea what your words mean. God awes me with how He works…
Sandy Rosser says
*that was “both” inspired and bless me….oops!