Psalm 27
Today, as the Underground, we come together in prayer and fasting, collectively joining our hearts in a “laser-focused” way.
FOCUS:
Psalm 27
Movement 1
Whom shall I fear?
Read
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
Reflect
There is much we can fear in this world. If you stop to think about it, there’s something that could bring fear at every turn we make. We may feel like the wicked are advancing against us to devour us. We may feel that the enemy army is coming, and war is breaking out in our lives. But these verses respond to fear and threats in a much different way. Instead of hiding or cowering or running, the Psalmist tells us to look that fear in the eye. He tells us that because the Lord is our light and salvation and stronghold, we do not have to be afraid. Your heart does not have to fear. In fact, we can be confident in the face of fear.
Pray
Think about something in your life that has caused you fear lately. You may think it is big or you may think it is small. Regardless, fear is fear. Close your eyes and envision yourself kneeling at the feet of Jesus. Take that fear and lay it down at His feet. See Him take the fear and cast it out. See the fear stumble and fall. Say out loud, “Whom shall I fear? Of whom shall I be afraid?” Sense His confidence growing in you.
Movement 2
One thing I ask.
Read
4 One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent, I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
Reflect
These are such beautiful scriptures. They detail the things that each of our hearts long for: to be with our God, to gaze at His beauty, and to feel safe. To enter into the sacred place with him and experience joy like we’ve never experienced before that can only come from through full communion with Him.
Pray
Close your eyes and envision yourself seeking the Lord. See yourself coming to His house and Him inviting you in. See yourself gazing on his beauty. Let the feeling of safety in this sacred place wash over you. Imagine yourself smiling and laughing with the most uncontrollable shouts of joy. And see Jesus smiling back at you because your sacrifice of joy is music to His ears.
Movement 3
Seek His face.
Read
7 Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, Lord, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, Lord;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
Reflect
Once again, such beautiful scriptures to which all of us can relate. Times of desperation when we are calling on the Lord, seeking His face, seeking His path. Reflect on a time in the past when you were crying out to your God and asking for His mercy. Perhaps you are in the middle of one of those times right now.
Pray
If He brought a memory to mind, thank God for showing up when you sought His face and pouring out His mercy on you. If you are in the middle of a time of desperation right now, sit in the silence and seek His face. Seek His path.
Movement 4
Wait for the Lord.
Read
13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
Reflect
For most people, waiting is hard. We find ourselves frustrated as we wait in line or wait for the lagging Wi-Fi or wait for a text or phone call. But waiting for God is oftentimes next level. And going back to verses 9 and 10, we may feel like He is hiding His face from us or rejecting or forsaking us. However, we are reminded that we can be confident in the fact that we will see His goodness. We can be strong and take heart as we wait for Him because we know that our God always comes through. He never rejects us or forsakes us.
Pray
Talk to God about something for which you are waiting. It doesn’t matter if it seems big or small or silly or important. God wants to know about it. He wants you to bring it to Him. So, tell Him what you’re waiting for and then read verses 13 and 14 aloud. Be reminded that you can be confident that you will see the Lord’s goodness and that you can be strong and take heart while you wait.