Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Perfect Timing

Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.

Psalm 27:3

This verse from Psalm 27 is the one which I am currently memorizing, and on which I am meditating for the next week. And last week, as I began to learn these words, I was impressed by God's perfect timing.

I always try to understand how a particular verse intersects with my life - to make it personal. But as I considered the words of Psalm 27:3 I thought, Really. When is the last time an army has besieged me? When have I been cut off from the things I need? Almost as quickly as that thought came into my head, it was as if God whispered the answer to me. Dear one, remember last Thursday?
And I did.
Thursdays are my day off at Edgewood, and I always look forward to spending time ALONE - no one asking me to do anything for them; no one needing me, wanting me, or having any pull on me. (I love, love, LOVE people. Love to be an instrument of God's grace to them. However, I have learned that I NEED time alone - as much as I need air to breathe.) But the previous Thursday Matthew had stayed home from school with a sore throat. He was needy all day. So I didn't get that day 'off' I'd been anticipating. And it put me in a tailspin. Yes, LORD, I guess I was feeling besieged that day.
Though an army besiege you, you will not fear. Remember these words, darling.

It didn't take long for me to understand what was going on. I got the call from school - Thursday was to be another snow day for the kids. On my day 'off', the whole army was going to be home! So all day last Wednesday I was repeating those words to myself, asking God to be my Strength.

And He was.

Karen

3 comments:

TheUnSoccerMom said...

I battle an army everyday... I think it's my customers (boy howdy I can get some doosies...) and mostly it is my customers, but I also realize that I battle myself too in how I react... Too many times I want to think things I shouldn't... be on the defensive... (hurt will do that to you) I have to remember the Lord is my strength. :o)

Thank you for this post! I'm writing Psalm 27:3 on a sticky note and placing it on my computer screen...

Leah Adams said...

To be very honest, I think the biggest army I face is usually myself!! I can work myself up into a frenzy in nothing flat if things don't go the way I expect them to go.

Great words for me to remember today.

leah

Karen Hossink said...

Jodi - And soon those words will make it from the sticky note to your heart - where they can stay forever! :o)

Leah - God is really doing a work in me, to keep me farther away from that frenzy. Found myself speaking out loud to myself in the van this morning, because sometimes I need to hear the Truth - not just 'know' it!