Psalm 63.

Refreshment.

Encouragement.

Water for our souls.

During the time these posts were being published, I hit a slump — one of those steep droops of emotional and mental fatigue when discouragement tempts us to just give it up. You may know some of the lies that play in your head at times like that. Was that Satan’s strategy in the wilderness? Did he scheme to hit Jesus when He was exhausted physically, mentally, and emotionally?

But Jesus hung on to Scripture to rebuff the lies.

At the bottom of the slump, some of these verses — the very stuff I’d been writing — came back: God is my helper. I walk surrounded by His unfailing love. He holds my life securely, even though my grasp sometimes slips. And most of all — my enemies will not beat me. And so those last few verses, that I had always thought kind of an odd ending for that particular psalm, came into sharp focus.

I was reminded again of the vivid illustration I was given about the Spirit using Scripture as His sword against our enemies. He slices and dices those lies. Scripture is a powerful weapon. (Click on the phrase “vivid illustration” to see the post.)

I hope some of these prayers come back to you at just the time you need the sword in your hand.

May God bless your day with refreshment, encouragement, and a sense of His constant presence and help.

O God, you are my God;
    I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
    my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
    where there is no water.

I have seen you in your sanctuary
and gazed upon your power and glory.

Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
how I praise you!

I will praise you as long as I live,
lifting up my hands to you in prayer.

You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
I will praise you with songs of joy.

 I lie awake thinking of you,
meditating on you through the night.

Because you are my helper,
I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.

I cling to you;
your strong right hand holds me securely.

But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin.
They will go down into the depths of the earth.
    They will die by the sword
and become the food of jackals.
But the king will rejoice in God.
All who trust in him will praise him,
while liars will be silenced.

Psalm 63