Author: Dana Hagstrom

Read Psalm 60

This is a psalm of lament and sadness, but not on a personal level, but as a nation.  The psalmist is looking beyond himself and crying out for his people.  Rather than questioning, “God, have you rejected us?”, he is stating it as fact, “You have rejected us, O God…”  He is feeling quite alone and abandoned, yet he cries for restoration and rescue.

Promises are recalled and spoken as the psalmist works through a solution.  God has the ultimate solution.  The last line of the psalm speaks volumes as to the writer’s faith.  “With God’s help, we will do mighty things for he will trample down our foes.”  Isn’t t his just a perfect mantra for us all to use daily.  It is only with God and by his mighty power that we can do great things.

When you look at your life or the state of our country (US and Mexico), I am sure you can find situations that need God’s mighty power.  Our cry to God could be just as the psalmists.  However, we must be careful not to get mad at God or try to tell him what to do. Have you ever caught yourself in your prayer time telling God what he should do?  I know I have, and it’s a good reminder that we need to ask for God’s will to be done.  We can certainly tell him our heart and what we would like, but we need to ultimately ask for his will to be revealed.

Let’s pray.  God, I do feel like our nations are crumbling and full of so many cracks.  I pray for our leaders that you will give them wisdom to fix what has been broken for so long.  You can seal those cracks.  Lord I know you are mighty, and great things can be done with your power – please help us!  Our call is to love–help us to love.  I want to be devoted to your will.  Help me sift through all the untruths of this world and find you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Read Psalm 59

Do you feel like you’ve read this before? The psalmist is really feeling overwhelmed with fear of attack.  Do you know anyone that is struggling with paranoia or fear?  I am sure this psalm will resonate with them.  The imagery of vicious dogs prowling and scavenging can really give you a vivid picture of the fear the writer was feeling.  Maybe terror is a stronger word more fitting.  Have you ever been terrified?

Many people ask me if I feel safe since moving to Mexico.  I would have to say I feel as safe here as I did in the U.S.  You will find evil everywhere you go.  The important thing to remember is who your protector is. God’s love is our only true defense in this world. While I can’t imagine the fear the psalmist is encountering, I do feel a sense of dread or uneasiness when faced with conflict.  I’m a people pleaser and never want there to be conflict around me, but we’re human, so there will be conflict.  In those times, I need to lean on God trusting him to provide. I am strong with the strength of God.

The first step to facing our fears is to be open to the fact that we are children of God. Once we realize and accept this truth, we should be able to boldly take a stand against that foe, we can be transformed and freed from our chains.

Enjoy a song by Chris Tomlin here. Also, scenes from the movie “Amazing Grace”.

Let the words of 1 Peter 5:6-7 resonate with you today.  “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you”

Let’s pray.  Father God, thank you for being our protector, our friend, our guide.  Help me to always give you the honor in the way I live my life. Help me to let go of any feelings of doubt or shame or fear. Fill me with the assurance that I am yours and your strength for me is sufficient.  Lord forgive me when I try to do it all on my own.  Reel me in and may my eyes be on you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Read Psalm 58

Justice.  This psalm begins with this word, and I find it truly sums up the heart of this psalm. This theme resonates greatly in society today in ways we might never have expected. Everyone wants justice or maybe just acceptance. Having worked in the legal field most of my working career, the term “justice” takes on another meaning for me, entirely. You can imagine the things I’ve seen over the years, the unfairness, big business eating up the little guy.  But the psalm today focuses on the evil of their day.

Here the psalmist s super serious about justice and you get the feeling he is trying or hoping to get even with his enemy or those he perceives are against him.  These enemies “spit venom”.  I think we are seeing the first bullies.  Bullying today has truly gotten out of hand, and while we are trying to get it under control in our schools, our workplaces, etc., the problem appears to have Biblical roots!

No human is perfect, and therefore perfect justice will never be found on earth.  We know, or should know, that God is the perfect judge, and he will judge us fairly when our turn is at hand.  We should be asking ourselves at least daily, “God, was my behavior, were my thoughts, pleasing to you today?  How can I be better and become more like you?”  Have you ever asked such a question.  If not, take a moment now to do so.  What do you think our world would look like if everyone had a mindset like this and asked God these questions everyday?

Let’s pray.  Lord, help me today to reflect you in all I say and do.  Bless those I encounter, and use me to give them reassurance where there is doubt, confidence where there is weakness, joy where there is sadness, and love where there is none.  Thank you in advance for each opportunity. In  Jesus’ name. Amen.

Read Psalm 57

What an image, to huddle beneath the shadow of God’s wings.  His mighty protection, his mercy is great!  In the version of this text I was reading, verse one says “until this violent storm is past”, and in the version I’ve linked above, it reads, “until the danger passes by.”  When I think of a storm, literally a thunderstorm, I immediately picture our three fearful, nervous-Nellie dogs during a storm huddled in my arms when the lightening streaks across the sky and the thunder booms.  Especially the thunder.  How they seek comfort and protection, so we seek the security of our heavenly father, and to nestle “beneath his wings” does sound like a safe place.

This psalm opens with an image of us coming to God for protection.  He will protect us, guard us, rescue us on a much grander scale than we can imagine.  Our storms may be depression, loss of a job, dispute with a friend, financial hardship, etc. The psalmist takes us quickly from the acknowledgement of the protection to praise.  This is so uplifting.  He doesn’t wallow in his fear.  In fact, he calls it out, “I am surrounded by fierce lions”.   Do you ever feel like your problems are bigger than you are?

We need to be more like the psalmist and use this pattern in our lives.  Identify the problem.  Call it out. Realize God is bigger and ask for rescue.  Then turn to praise because our confidence in God is greater than our fear of the storm.  This praise must not be kept silent but we should tell others, and let our lives be lived in such a way that thanksgiving to God is automatic.  Praising God should be reflected in how we live our life.

I often look around when I’m waiting, whether  it be in a line at the grocery store, at a stop light, in a waiting room, or even waiting for worship to begin. I am always amazed at what I see.  I see serious faces. I see people almost frowning.  What must they be thinking that has left them looking so forlorn?  Likewise, I try to keep a bit of a smile on my face at all times.  Hopefully people don’t find that too annoying.  I have had my husband ask me if everything is alright…if that smile starts to fade. I keep that smile fueled by remembering “who” I belong to, and “where” I am going.  I am a child of the king, and I will spend eternity with him!  Do you have that confidence, too?

Let’s pray.  Heavenly father I thank you that I can find shelter in the shadow of your wings.  You  are a mighty warrior on my behalf, and I thank you for fighting my battles.  Watch over my loved ones this day, and I pray they will come to a place of having the confidence in you and the spirit of praise will be overflowing in them as well.