...once and for all...

“1 You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,

2 will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.’

9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your dwelling-place,

10 no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.

12 On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread on the lion and the adder, 

the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.

14 Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name.

15 When they call to me, I will answer them;    

I will be with them in trouble,    

I will rescue them and honor them.

16 With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation” Psalm 91:1-2; 9-16.

I have always loved this psalm not only for what it assures me, but also for what it does not provide me. It doesn’t assure me that I won’t be in dangerous places, nor does it assure me that I won’t have to face the wild, the threatening, and the demonic in my life.

And obviously it doesn’t protect me with assurances that I won’t find myself in serious trouble.

But what it does say is most comforting to my soul: I HAVE TO CHOOSE GOD AND DESIRE GOD TO BE MY DWELLING PLACE.

I will always be able to live in the shelter of the Most High — even though I may stupidly walk out the door sometimes!

It assures me that God will be my refuge and my place of dwelling.

It assures me that God will protect me against harm.

It says that I won’t need to be afraid of the wild animals, and that I’ll be able to trample them underfoot.

It says that God will be with me in trouble, and will rescue me.

It tells me that God’s angels will be my guards.

It calls me — very clearly — to LOVE God.

"Do so, Paul, and I will deliver you and protect you."

It assures me that when I call on God, He will answer me.

And when I get myself in trouble, God will never abandon me.

And God promises to bring me satisfaction and salvation.

These Words of God are good words for Lent, because Lent is a journey that may take us to some difficult and awkward places in our life.

Lent calls us to search for God and His ways more deeply than we have ever done before.

And like all journeys, some of it will be hard and dangerous, as was Jesus’ forty-day fast in the wilderness, with the wild beasts around Him and the Demon of demons whispering in His ear.

So, roll up your sleeves! It’s Lent.

Turn around and run after God!

And don’t stop.

When He let’s you catch up to Him, take His hand, turn around, and walk with Him!

Again!

Once and for all!

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God,

have mercy on me, a sinner!