The Lifter of My Head

"But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head." -Psalm 3:3

We sang a song at Lawndale this morning that reminded me of this verse, and I had forgotten how much I loved it. The image created here speaks to the tenderness of my Savior. Can't you just picture Him? He sees your head hanging low with the pain, heartaches, and weights of this world, tear-stained, puffy-eyed, and defeated, and he gently takes your chin in his hand and tilts it up so that your eyes meet as if to say, "I'm right here. I see your pain, and I can take your burden. There's no pain I can't handle...no pain that catches me off guard. I know your every day before you live it, and you are never, ever alone. I am here. Always."

Let Him be the lifter of your head today.

Hope through Faith

Often when I'm tempted to view circumstances in my life as debilitating, unfair, hurtful, or despairing, my heart is quietly reminded of 2 Corinthians 4. This passage just might be one of my favorite sections of God's word because it's just such an eloquent, poetic, and beautiful reminder that no matter how hopeless your situation feels, you have the power of God Almighty living in you. He is in control (as my neighbor across the hall reminded me only yesterday), so we have no reason to worry, pity ourselves, or let life get us down in any way. Hope for tomorrow comes only through the faith we have in Him moment by moment. He's only asking us to hold on tight and let Him lead. The question is are we willing to let Him use our light and momentary sufferings to bring Him glory instead of using them as an excuse for a pity party? I'm not saying we don't have real pains in this life or that there's not a perfectly appropriate place for grief in our lives, but there's danger in dwelling too long on pain. There's no pain He can't use to glorify His name if only we'll let Him. I hope this passage in 2 Corinthians blesses you and comforts you tonight as it has done and continues to do for me. May we strive to shine for Him in all circumstances. May our faith in His complete control give us immovable, unshakable hope. And let us not forget that it is only through His ultimate sacrifice and pain that we have that faith and hope.

2 Corinthians 4:7-10, 16-18:
⁷But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. ⁸We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; ⁹persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

¹⁶So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ¹⁸as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

A Word from The Word for the New Year

¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
¹¹Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
¹³Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.

---Psalm 51:10-13 (emphasis mine)