Just doing a little time with JC and felt like sharing=]
Psalm 18:30-36
30 As for God, his way is perfect:
The LORD’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is the Rock except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength
and keeps my way secure.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he causes me to stand on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You make your saving help my shield,
and your right hand sustains me;
your help has made me GREAT.
36 You provide a broad path for my feet,
so that my ankles do not give way.
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I LOVE this. I love the constant reassurances that regardless of how hard life is, regardless of what troubles we face, God is CONSTANTLY watching out for us. Read it again. Look at what He does. God shields, arms, SECURES, trains, helps, sustains and provides for us. The two images I love best in this are the feet of the deer and the broad path. Upon first reading i was like...oh whatevs, Biblical imagery blah blah blah. But, I guess that's the point at which one should actually attempt to look at what it's saying. So I did. Yeah self-motivation! Yeah!
Anyways, what I love about these two images is what they say about who God is. Hidden under a random phrase or an oft repeated saying, God's personality is being revealed. Obviously some of the characteristics are simply put for the reader, but these two one has to work for a bit. And i'm glad that I did. Because when you really look at what it means to have your feet be like the feet of a deer...it's pretty fantastic. Deer are quiet. (To which, my original thought was...sweet. God made me quiet. WAIT. False. I obviously read this wrong.) But, the reason deer have quiet feet, is because they are light on their feet. They have nothing weighing them down, and therefore have the ability to quickly remove themselves from harm's way. THAT is what God does for us. He helps us with whatever happens to be weighing us down. He makes sure that we are NOT along when facing the rough parts of life and those things that may easily overthrow us. God refuses to let the children He adores do that alone. mmm....that. is. awesome. Our God sees our difficulties and is automatically at our side; sustaining, helping, and providing for us. God is Good.
The second image I love is a bit more obvious in what characteristic it's showing. BUT, it's still not one that is often thought of in this respect. Usually, when one thinks of Christianity you think of the cliché "straight and narrow" path (Matt 7:13-14). But here, David, says God makes our paths BROAD. So what's the deal? Well, I think it's a mix of the two. Because obviously Christianity is NOT the easiest religion in the world to adhere to...(the straight and narrow), but, at the same time. Within that narrow pathway, once chosen, God is MORE than happy to enlighten us as to which way is going to be the best route. Over and over again I have had God answer my prayers in terms of where I was supposed to be. He never fails to close doors and make apparent what road I need to be on. However, I have to be willing to ask for it. So, i love this. I love that David notes how God gives to us when we all on Him. He helps me when I am at my weakest, and guides me to the best of times with family and friends. It's nice to know, that thousands of years later, my sentiments towards God are exactly the same as they were for David.
Our God is an AWESOME God.
Psalm 18:30-36
30 As for God, his way is perfect:
The LORD’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is the Rock except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength
and keeps my way secure.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he causes me to stand on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You make your saving help my shield,
and your right hand sustains me;
your help has made me GREAT.
36 You provide a broad path for my feet,
so that my ankles do not give way.
-----------------------
I LOVE this. I love the constant reassurances that regardless of how hard life is, regardless of what troubles we face, God is CONSTANTLY watching out for us. Read it again. Look at what He does. God shields, arms, SECURES, trains, helps, sustains and provides for us. The two images I love best in this are the feet of the deer and the broad path. Upon first reading i was like...oh whatevs, Biblical imagery blah blah blah. But, I guess that's the point at which one should actually attempt to look at what it's saying. So I did. Yeah self-motivation! Yeah!
Anyways, what I love about these two images is what they say about who God is. Hidden under a random phrase or an oft repeated saying, God's personality is being revealed. Obviously some of the characteristics are simply put for the reader, but these two one has to work for a bit. And i'm glad that I did. Because when you really look at what it means to have your feet be like the feet of a deer...it's pretty fantastic. Deer are quiet. (To which, my original thought was...sweet. God made me quiet. WAIT. False. I obviously read this wrong.) But, the reason deer have quiet feet, is because they are light on their feet. They have nothing weighing them down, and therefore have the ability to quickly remove themselves from harm's way. THAT is what God does for us. He helps us with whatever happens to be weighing us down. He makes sure that we are NOT along when facing the rough parts of life and those things that may easily overthrow us. God refuses to let the children He adores do that alone. mmm....that. is. awesome. Our God sees our difficulties and is automatically at our side; sustaining, helping, and providing for us. God is Good.
The second image I love is a bit more obvious in what characteristic it's showing. BUT, it's still not one that is often thought of in this respect. Usually, when one thinks of Christianity you think of the cliché "straight and narrow" path (Matt 7:13-14). But here, David, says God makes our paths BROAD. So what's the deal? Well, I think it's a mix of the two. Because obviously Christianity is NOT the easiest religion in the world to adhere to...(the straight and narrow), but, at the same time. Within that narrow pathway, once chosen, God is MORE than happy to enlighten us as to which way is going to be the best route. Over and over again I have had God answer my prayers in terms of where I was supposed to be. He never fails to close doors and make apparent what road I need to be on. However, I have to be willing to ask for it. So, i love this. I love that David notes how God gives to us when we all on Him. He helps me when I am at my weakest, and guides me to the best of times with family and friends. It's nice to know, that thousands of years later, my sentiments towards God are exactly the same as they were for David.
Our God is an AWESOME God.
