Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Shielded with Favor

Mike and I are reading a Psalm a Day right now.  One of the things I love about the Psalms is that no matter what your emotion, you will likely find it expressed there.  It can really be a helpful guide for praying when you just can't find the words.

I am praying for some friends who are facing very serious health challenges.  It is such a helpless feeling to see someone you care about hurting.  I literally woke up one day praying, but my words seemed too pitiful to appropriately cover the situation.  I know that God's work is not dependent on my words, but still, I searched to express my thoughts.  Today I went back to Psalm 5:11-12.

"But let all who take refuge in you
rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
so that those who love your
name may exult in you.
For you bless the righteous,
O Lord;
you cover them with favor as
with a shield." NRSV

I am sure there have been times I've read over those verses and just thought they sounded nice.  Today, they really speak to me.  I love picturing God spreading protection over my friends, shielding them with his favor. 


1 comment:

Emily said...

I love the image of God being a shield around me. What a comforting thought! I too like reading the Psalms when I just don't have the words to pray. David (as well as the other psalm writers) had a way of crying out to God with such honest, raw emotion. I can identify with that.

Featured Post

My Life as a Travel Agent

On a recent morning I was at work and as one of my patients was waiting for his death, I thought again about an idea that keeps popping int...