“Shelter in place” is a term we’re becoming accustomed to these days. Kevin shared helpful perspectives last weekend on his recorded video message to our church body. I’m adding my encouragement from my reading this morning in Psalm 27.
I often will read the Psalm associated with the daily date–in this case Ps. 27. Many of you will remember that Psalm 27:4 was the focal point of the first lesson in our Reset prayer journey related to desire, “One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after—to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty (delightfulness) of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.”
A couple of weeks ago I was in Ontario visiting my mother, who turns 91 in April. The news of the pandemic and the seriousness of taking action was filling the Canadian airwaves. (My travel across the border today would be difficult, if not impossible.) I wanted us to be able to share in God’s awareness and presence in the midst of all this before I left, and we turned to Ps. 91 –”You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress.'” The whole Psalm is rich with God’s reassurance of His presence and protection.
So too is Ps. 27, reassuring us that, “He will hide me in shelter in the day of trouble; He will conceal me under the cover of his tent; He will set me high on a rock” (v.5.) He ends with having gained assurance through his prayer time and journaling, and says, “I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” He then passes that encouragement on to others, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (vs. 13-14.)
I’ve gained some ground in my prayer life on our Reset journey, in waiting on the Lord. Still, it’s hard to break away from wanting to be busy, doing things, and focusing on future job possibilities. God understands, and He continues to extend the invitation to come into His protective presence, where there is fullness of joy (Ps. 16:11.)
How about “Shelter in Place” with a capital “P”? And let’s encourage one another while it is still called “today” (Heb. 3:13), all the while taking the necessary precautions to avoid receiving or passing on the virus.
Shalom to all,
Bryan
