Throughout the week, this verse has been on my mind - "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I" Psalm 61:2. I want to share with you a few of the things I've been thinking about and looking at this week in relation to this verse. 

This Psalm of David is interesting as it seems to be it was written at a time in David's life where he was forced to leave the temple of the Lord. Of this verse, Charles Spurgeon says the following: "The second verse leads us to believe that it was written during the psalmist's enforced exile from the tabernacle, which was the visible abode of God..." The relevancy of the situation in which David wrote this comforts me with our current restrictions on corporate worship. While we certainly have not been "exiled" as such, we are prevented from meeting together due to the current health crisis in our world. However, as we will see, we are not alone.

"When my heart is overwhelmed" Overwhelment is a sinking, crushing, suffocating feeling, & this word carries with it the idea of being completely without strength in ourselves.

"lead me" - This phrase struck me when I started digging a little into this verse. When we are overwhelmed we may feel that we have nothing left within ourselves to pull ourselves back towards God, but in that place, we can cry out to Him to lead us.
Matthew 11:28- Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

"the rock that is higher than I" - Referring to God. He is our foundation. Our stay. Our shelter and high place. In Him we can find safety and security.
Psalms 18:2 - The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer...

1 Samuel 2:2 - There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

When all around us seems out of control, we can depend on the God who is higher than it all. 

Just a couple of simple thoughts this week, but I hope they bless you. 

God bless x 

There was an incredible storm in our area last night and I just had to get my camera out to photograph it. Pictures really don't do it justice, but hopefully I've captured a glimpse of what it looked like.

The words in Psalm 19:1 really sum it up well "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork." The display of God's power and glory through creation is just amazing and to know He created it all!

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

"He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
Psalm 23:3

In my quiet times recently I've been reading through the book of Psalms, and as I read and meditated on Psalm 23 the Lord taught me some things and it was a blessing to my heart. So, I thought I'd share with you what I got out of this Psalm, and, of course, a Bible wallpaper to go with it :)

When I was reading Psalm 23, this verse in particular "jumped out" at me and spoke to my heart. Each part of this verse is so beautiful.

"He restoreth my soul..." Restore - to make new, to bring to life again. When I thought of the word restore, I thought of the way that people restore antique things. In order for it to be restored, all the rust and dirt must be removed and sanded away, after this it is given a new coat of paint. 

This reminded me of the work Christ does in our hearts at salvation: He washes all the sin from our hearts with the blood of the Lord Jesus, then clothes us in the righteousness of Christ. No longer does God see us with rusty old hearts filled with sin, but rather He sees our new identity in the righteousness of Jesus. 

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Not only does God restore our hearts at salvation, but He daily restores our hearts as we meditate in His word daily. 

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

"He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness..." The Lord will lead us in the right way to live for Him. We cannot walk righteously in our own strength. 

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

"For His name's sake." Walking with the Lord and walking righteously will bring glory to our Saviour's name, He leads us in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. 

Thanks for reading and I hope that by sharing what I gained from this passage of scripture you were blessed :)

Love and blessings,

Hannah :)

The first thing that stands out to me in this verse is actually one of the smallest things in the verse! And that is the comma after the words "Be still." It is amazing how much meaning a simple punctuation mark can bring to a verse! The verse to me says, "Be still, {pause, reflect, rest}" Taking a "comma" in our day to reflect and spend time with the Lord is so important! 

The verse goes on to say, "and know that I am God." God wants us to be still so we can know Him, and hear His voice. Just being still is often something we neglect to do, especially as the end of the year draws near. We get busy, forget to spend quiet time with the Lord, and we forget to spend time in His presence. I am as guilty of this as the next person! I get so tied up with doing things, that I forget to just be still and know God. God wants us to be still, and know that He is God.

God bless!

Hannah

But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Job 23:10

I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. Psalm 144:9

But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. Jeremiah 10:10

The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted. Psalm 18:46

Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. Psalm 150:6

O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. Psalm 104:24

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:11-12

O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Psalm 96:1

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. Isaiah 40:8

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; Psalm 1:3