Scripture for Today:  Psalm 5:12 “For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord.  You surround him with favor as with a shield.”

There is a beautiful castle not far from us called Haut-Koenigsbourg.  It is perched high in the Vosges mountains and from its windows there are some amazing views.  It is a furnished castle with an armory filled with all kinds of ancient instruments of war.  Included in their collection are some antique shields.  Every piece of armor is critical but maybe none more than the shield that protects.

Normally, when I think of biblical references to the shield, my mind either goes to the list of spiritual armor in Ephesians 6, or the Psalms that talk of the Lord Himself being a shield.  Our verse for today talks about the shield being His favor.  What a beautiful thought, that He surrounds the righteous  with His favor and blessing!

He promises favor and blessing for those who are in right standing with Him.  I have no righteousness of my own, but I am the recipient of His righteousness.  I am His own and He in His grace takes care of His own.  I do not deserve such care and attention.

Because of His favor shielding me, I can take refuge in Him.  He is my Protector and that means I can move through this life without fear.  It also means I can face death without fear.  Putting my trust in Him is my defense in the midst of battle.  I can sing and shout for joy regardless of the circumstances.  I know the outcome of every skirmish as He is the Victor!  As Psalm 3:3 says, He is my shield and the “lifter of my head!”

I am so unworthy.  Thank you, Lord, for surrounding me with Your favor today.

Scripture for Today: Job 37: 3, 5 “Under the whole heaven He lets it loose, and His lightnings to the ends of the earth.  God thunders with His voice wondrously, doing great things which we cannot comprehend.”

We are experiencing some incredible summer storms here in France.  The heat builds and builds and then there is noisy relief!  The thunder can be deafening and the skies seem to split with the lightening!  The thunder is especially impressive as the sound bounces off the Vosges mountains.  From our balcony I watched the storm approach over those mountains.  But seeing all the metal of the balcony railings, I decided I had better go in!

Our verse for today likens thunder to God’s mighty voice.  The fear that a clap of thunder can evoke is the fear I ought to feel at God’s powerful Word.  The Law was given to the Israelites in the midst of thunder and lightning.  It inspired such fear in the people that they insisted that Moses approach God in their place.  It is that fear which leads to obedience and wisdom (Psalm 111:10).

There are times that I lose that sense of fear at God’s greatness.  But all it takes to remind me is a huge storm that unleashes its fury!  God is bigger than the biggest storm.  His power transcends everything!  I am so thankful that my fear of Him does not include fear of punishment!  Jesus took on Himself all the condemnation I deserve.  But my fear of Him is one that inspires knee-bending awe of His greatness and power.

One day my voice will be like thunder at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev.19:6).  With a vast multitude I will be shouting, “Hallelujah!  For now the Lord God the Omnipotent reigns!”  That will be the best kind of thunder!

Scripture for Today: Isaiah 44:3 “For I will pour out water upon him who is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground.  I will pour out My Spirit upon your offspring, and My blessing upon your descendants;”

We have been having a heat wave recently here in France.  In French it is called “canicule” for anything over 90 degrees.  There are warnings on the television news and on public service announcements to drink plenty of water.

My plants are thirsty too.  It does not take much for them to look pathetic in this heat.  I have a nice long hose that reaches most of our side yard.  But so often, the hose gets a kink in it.  In fact, the further I get from the source of the water, the more likely it is that the water stops.  It is annoying to have to run back and see where the problem is!

So often in Scripture water represents God’s Spirit.  His presence gives life and health.  With Him we flourish and grow.  Without Him, we wilt and bear no fruit.  But like a kink in a hose, I can sometimes cut myself off from that source of water; His Spirit.

The flow of water is interrupted through no problem on His part!  The water blockage comes from my own pride.  I see the good things in my life and very quickly take credit for them.  I pat myself on the back for all the good decisions I have made.  Rather than recognize the Source of everything good in my life, I somehow feel I had something to do with it!  My family genes, my financial acumen, or my level of education take center stage rather than His goodness!

May I today, “Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!”

Scripture for Today: Ephesians 3:16 “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, “

My weights are red, not black.  I have the possibility of adding more discs to make them heavier, but I don’t.  I suppose I get some sort of workout when I move them out of the way of the vacuum cleaner.

I know I should be using them to strengthen my arms.  Age is working against me and with sleeveless weather upon us, I should be more motivated.  I feel guilty when I read in Proverbs 31:17 that the virtuous woman strengthens her arms!  Couldn’t I just be content with hauling around heavy grocery bags and overstuffed suitcases?

Our verse for today describes another kind of strengthening; that of the inner person.  It is a strength unseen and given by the Spirit of God.  It is His strength that He shares out of His limitless supply.  I have always wondered why “strength” or “power” is not listed among the fruit of His Spirit in Gal. 5:22-23.  The fruit is the evidence His presence.  In contrast, perhaps the strength of His Spirit is “granted” to us when we pray for it.  The context of this verse is a prayer of Paul’s for the Ephesians.

When I pray for His strength to be developed in me, He is gracious.  He grants it because He is merciful, not because I deserve it.  He gives me strength to stand firm in my faith when circumstances want to weaken it.  He gives me strength to say “no” to temptation.  I know it comes from Him as I am very aware of my weaknesses.  But He does wait for me to realize my need and ask Him.  Lord, how I need Your strength today!