Here’s Hope: “Tell me what I need to hear, tell me that I am not forgotten, show me that there is a God who can be more than I ever wanted. Cause right now I need a little hope, I need to know that I’m not alone. Maybe God is calling you tonight, tell me something that might save my life.” ( Song: “Save My Life” by Sidewalk Prophets)
Bible Passage: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, ... He says, ‘Be still, and know I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:1-2, 10)
Consider This: What brings you calm in the middle of this covid-19 situation? What helps to alleviate your fears? The Bible passage above from Psalm 46:1 is one of those memory verses I recall encouraging our 5th & 6th Grade Sunday School students to memorize over 15 years ago. Even though it is a brief little verse, I still take comfort in saying it to myself, especially in light of this healthcare crisis we find ourselves today.
Do you have a few verses that you have committed to memory like Psalm 46:1? Why not try memorizing some verses like this one? The Psalms are a treasure chest full of sayings that give strength and encouragement to us as Christian believers. I think the Psalms are so encouraging because as you probably already know, the Psalter (the Psalms) were the “hymn book” for Jewish people going back over 2000 years. These were songs of praise to God which were sung in their times of corporate and probably private devotion as well. What songs are you remembering or singing today that lift your spirits? I personally like what I call contemporary Christian music like the words quoted above from the group, Sidewalk Prophets. In these difficult times, we need to focus on positive, God-honoring ideas and truths like what we read in Scripture, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.” Doesn’t that help just saying out loud or repeating quietly to yourself. I think it does and I encourage you to try it as well.
Recently, while listening to the morning news, this secular TV station, was interviewing a Catholic Cardinal and asked him, what was his advice on dealing with this coronavirus situation? His answer was classic and encouraging. He said the Bible has 365 “fear not’ statements in the Old & New Testament, one for each day of the year. What simple but profound advice. That is “Good News” and we should be taking advantage of it every day, shouldn’t we?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of Your Word, the Bible. Teach us to remember passages like Psalm 119:11, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Help us to be still and know You are God.
Amen