Psalms 55:1-57:3

“But I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me. Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice. He ransoms me and keeps me safe from the battle waged against me, though many still oppose me. God, who has ruled forever, will hear me and humble them.” Psalms 55:16-19 NLT

David was in trouble and knew he could call on the Lord. Do I believe that God is working on my behalf like David did? He had the faith to keep praying.

“Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” Psalms 55:22 NLT

Why is it so hard to give my burdens to the Lord? Or as the ESV translation says, ”Cast your burden on the Lord.” Throwing something forceable in a specified direction, like a fishing line (Webster’s). Throwing my anxiety onto Jesus is an action. Sometimes it might take all that I have, just like the following verse says…“But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?” Psalms 56:3&4 NLT

“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” Psalms 56:8 NLT

I am thankful for a Father who is so personal that he collects my tears. His heart breaks for mine, so he can heal it. Nothing is wasted with him.

“My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know. God is on my side! I praise God for what he has promised; yes, I praise the Lord for what he has promised. I trust in God so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?” Psalms 56:9-11 NLT

Dear Father, thank you that you hear me when I call to you. That you are always near. I love you for who you are. Amen.

Amy(amyctanner)

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Psalms 17:6-18:36

“I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray. Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies. Guard me as you would guard your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings.” Psalms 17:6-8 NLT

I am reminded that I am in a very real battle. I am thankful to know that Jesus wins. David didn’t have the knowledge of the cross like I do. But, that doesn’t stop him from running to God. What sometimes stops me?

“I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies. The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction fled over me.” Psalms 18:1-4 NLT

David was so grateful to God for rescuing him that he couldn’t help but praise…even when he was weary. How many times do I let my feelings stop me from worshipping?

“He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters, He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me. They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the Lord supported me, He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me.” Psalms 18:16-19 NLT

Dear Father, Thank you for saving me. I want to lift my hands and worship you no matter what I am facing. I surrender to you. My victory is in you. Amen.

“He trains my hands for battle; he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow. You have given me a shield of victory.” Psalms 18:34&35 NLT

Amy(amyctanner)

2 Chronicles 20:14-24:14

“This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow march out against them. But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Juhah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!” 2 Chronicles 20:15-17 NLT

There was a vast army coming against Judah. King Jehoshaphat was terrified and he begged the Lord for his intervention and asked everyone to fast. In the midst of his fear he declared the Lord’s power in prayer and worship. Than the Spirit of the Lord came upon one of his men and prophesied God’s promise to fight for them. The people began to worship before the victory.

“Than King Jehoshaphat bowed low his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshipping the Lord. After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: ”Give thanks to the Lord; His faithful love endures forever!” At that very moment they began to sing and praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting amongst themselves.” 2 Chronicles 20:18-22 NLT

A friend once told me that prayer and worship combined are a strong weapon against the enemy. I was feeling defeated and oppressed under my circumstances. This is how I would rise above them, just like King Jehoshaphat did.

“When all the surrounding kingdoms heard that the Lord himself had fought against the enemies of Israel, the fear of God came over them. So Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.” 2 Chronicles 20:29&30 NLT

Dear Father, thank you for fighting for me. So many times I get weary for taking the battle on myself. I give it over to you again & again. Thank you that you hear my prayers. Thank you for your faithfulness. The victory is yours. Amen.

Amy(amyctanner)

Numbers 13:17-15:21

“At the end of forty days they returned from spying out from the land. And they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh, and showed them the fruit of the land. And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, ”Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well to overcome it.” Then the men who had gone up with him said, ”We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.” Numbers 13:25-31 ESV

The spies got scared after they saw the land that God sent them to. They overlooked the good of the land and only saw the obstacles. How many times have I failed to be grateful for God’s abundant provision? I want to be more like Caleb and Joshua. They were able to see past the challenges. And have the faith to know that God is with them and will help them.

“Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” Numbers 14:3 ESV

Am I living with hopeful expectancy or fear?

“But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.” Numbers 14:24 ESV. God didn’t say that Caleb was the strongest, most talented and handsome. He said that Caleb had a different spirit and followed Him fully. That’s what mattered the most. Will He be able to say the same about me?

Dear Father, Help me to look for Your goodness all around me. Forgive me when i focus on my trials and forget how You have carried me through time and time again. Thank you for always being with me and never leaving me. I want to live with a renewed perspective. Amen.

Amy(amyctanner)

2 Samuel 21-23; Psalm 18; Romans 3

I’m reading The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare with my youngest child. There is a scripture quoted in it repeatedly:

³⁵ He trains my hands for battle;
    he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow. (2 Samuel 22:35, NLT)

I paused in my 66 Books reading today, because that scripture appeared in 2 Samuel and Psalm 18. I took a longer look at David’s men, described in 2 Samuel. Of his elite three, I noticed qualities of strength, loyalty, perseverance, and courage.

⁹ Next in rank among the Three was Eleazar son of Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah. Once Eleazar and David stood together against the Philistines when the entire Israelite army had fled. ¹⁰ He killed Philistines until his hand was too tired to lift his sword, and the Lord gave him a great victory that day. The rest of the army did not return until it was time to collect the plunder!

¹¹ Next in rank was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. One time the Philistines gathered at Lehi and attacked the Israelites in a field full of lentils. The Israelite army fled, ¹² but Shammah held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory. (2 Samuel 23:9-12, NLT, emphasis added)

I consider the army I thought would have been with me in my greatest battles. I remember the names of the elite who stayed.

He trains my hands for battle. He readies me for difficult tasks.

The Lord does bring about great victories. He’s looking for someone to stay (when they’re tired, to hold the ground when the army flees). Oh, times of testing reveal so much (I cast my cares upon him.).

³ True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful? ⁴ Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him,

“You will be proved right in what you say,
    and you will win your case in court.” (Romans 3:3-4, NLT)

Lord, I fix my eyes on you. You are the source of my strength. You are my hope. You are true.

Courtney (66books365)