Scripture for Today: Psalm 63:7-8 “Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings.  I cling to You. Your right hand upholds me.”

I finally gave in. After years of fighting with plastic wrap, I finally spent the extra for a dispenser that allows me to roll it out and cut it easily. If there had been a hidden camera in my kitchen, it would have caught me tearing at that plastic and throwing away countless yards of the stuff as it would cling to the wrong thing.  Seriously, plastic wrap seems to have a mind of its own!  It clings to itself, my hand, or the counter, but rarely where I am putting it.

Today’s verse is about a different kind of clinging. When we realize just how needy we are, we can give ourselves permission to cling. The problem is that sometimes we cling to the wrong thing. When we cling to our own resources or to others, we continue to be needy. However, when we cling to the Lord and His strength, we find ourselves upheld by His powerful right hand. He is our help when all else fails.  Clinging to Him and His protection changes our attitude to one of joy and song. He is never bothered by our clinging. He does not shake us off. He holds us up when we feel we are falling. He is faithful to give the help we need.

I cannot cling to Him if my hands are full. I need to let go of all my supposed resources and depend completely on Him. He is big enough and strong enough to be all the help I need. I can never cling to Him too much! There is no such thing as “too clingy.” And He invites me to hold Him tightly in faith that He will not let go. He will not let me down.

Thank you Lord, that You are faithful to hold me.

Scripture for Today: II Thessalonians 3:3 “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”

This Dwarf mongoose makes his home in Botswana and is Africa’s smallest carnivore weighing less than a pound! But as small as he is, he is bold enough to take down a king cobra! His speed and agility are remarkable, darting at the head of the snake and cracking its skull with his powerful bite! He himself does not need to worry about being bitten. That is because he has a protein that binds to proteins in the snake venom, rendering it harmless.

Today’s verse is a wonderful promise of the Lord to His own. He promises to strengthen and protect the believer from the evil one. Satan showed up in the very beginning as a serpent who deceives (Gen 3:13). He is also pictured as a lion looking to devour its prey (I Peter 5:8). There will be attacks and we are encouraged to stand firm in the faith with the armor He provides (Eph. 6:10-17). We may feel small, but the Lord is faithful to protect our soul, now and for eternity. Nothing and no one can snatch us from His powerful protective hands (John 10:29).

Like the small mongoose, I can be fearless and confident! I do not want to underestimate the enemy, but I know that victory is mine in Christ. The venom and sting of death is rendered powerless because of God’s faithfulness to me. There may be that occasional skirmish that can discourage, but the outcome is already decided! If God is for me, who can be against me? (Rom. 8:31) And this victory does not depend on this fickle soul but on the Savior of my soul who has promised!

Thank you Lord, for Your strength and protection!

(Look familiar? This is a repost from 2022)