In His Shadow

Good Morning!

Psalm 91:1-2 New International Version (NIV)

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

Footnotes:
a. Psalm 91:1 Hebrew Shaddai

I met with our Pastor, Jeff Lowe, Monday afternoon about Vacation Bible school. But before we began our meeting, he asked about a couple of prayer requests Miss N had given him. One was about my daughter’s heart problem and the other was about son, David, and some issues he is going through now. I found myself telling Jeff that, while I am concerned as a parent, I also know that God is still sovereign and that He can resolve any issues that our children are going through. And I don’t say that lightly … because experience has taught that God is indeed more than capable of caring for our needs.

Then yesterday, as I was driving home, I began to think of the word “forgiveness”. You see, I think a lot of the problems facing our young people today is knowing how to forgive.

The root word in the Greek for forgiveness means “to release”. I think that the release is twofold: I release the blame of the other and at the same time I also release my own guilt. And, yes, when there is conflict, we have both blame and guilt involved.

Some of us like to carry the blame baggage … not realizing that the bag is filled with our own guilt. Why not just turn the blame and guilt over to God and let Him handle the issue? Don’t you trust Him to make the right judgment?

Take a look at the verses above and think about the two things I have mentioned today: prayer concerns that we have and forgiveness we need to give. Both of these can dwell in the shelter of the Most High. And when I allow myself to be in His shadow … to be so close that the cool of His shadow shields me … I can turn my troubles and my trials over to Him to handle.

You can too … on this, another good day in the Lord.

Agape’


Mr. Jim