Psalms 91

 

 Псалом 91

 Ті, що живуть у покрові Всевишнього , знайдуть спокій у тіні Всемогутнього.  Це я проголошую про  Господа : Він єдиний мій притулок, моє місце безпеки; він мій Бог, і я довіряю йому.  Бо він врятує вас від усякої пастки і захистить від смертельної хвороби.  Він покриє вас своїм пір’ям. Він прихистить вас своїми крилами. Його вірні обіцянки – це ваша зброя і захист.  Не бійся жахів ночі, ані стріли, що летить вдень.  Не бійся хвороби, що перебуває в темряві, ані лиха, що вражає опівдні.  

   7  Хоч тисяча впаде поруч з тобою, хоч десять тисяч гинуть навколо тебе, це зло не торкнеться тебе.  Просто відкрийте очі і подивіться, як покарані нечестивці. 

 Якщо ти зробиш  Господа  своїм притулком, якщо зробиш Всевишнього своїм притулком, 10  ніяке зло не переможе тебе; жодна чума не наблизиться до вашого дому. 11  Бо він накаже своїм ангелам захищати вас, куди б ви не пішли. 12  Вони піднімуть тебе своїми руками , щоб ти навіть не пошкодив ногу об камінь. 13  Ти будеш топтати левів і кобр; ти тиснеш лютих левів і змій під ногами своїми! 

14  Господь каже: «   Я врятую тих, хто любить Мене. Я буду захищати тих, хто довіряє моєму імені. 15  Коли покличуть мене, я відповім; Я буду з ними в біді. Я врятую і вшаную їх. 16  Я винагороджу їх довгим життям і дам їм своє спасіння».

(Ukrainian version)

    Psalm 91

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
    will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
    he is my God, and I trust him.
For he will rescue you from every trap
    and protect you from deadly disease.
He will cover you with his feathers.
    He will shelter you with his wings.
    His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies in the day.
Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
    nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
Though a thousand fall at your side,
    though ten thousand are dying around you,
    these evils will not touch you.
Just open your eyes,
    and see how the wicked are punished.

If you make the Lord your refuge,
    if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
    no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels
    to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
    so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
    you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
    I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
    I will be with them in trouble.
    I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life
    and give them my salvation.”

2019 Resolves

 

2019 Resolves

re·solve definition:

verb
1.
settle or find a solution to (a problem, dispute, or contentious matter).
“the firm aims to resolve problems within 30 days”
synonyms: settle, sort out, solve, find a solution to, fix, straighten out, deal with, put right, put to rights, rectify; More
2.
decide firmly on a course of action.
“she resolved to call Dana as soon as she got home”
synonyms: determine, decide, make up one’s mind, make a decision
“Bob resolved not to wait any longer”

noun
1.
firm determination to do something.
“she received information that strengthened her resolve”
synonyms: decision, resolution, commitment
“he made a resolve not to go there again”

When we choose to take actions towards a goal or take actions against problems, it takes a measure of resolve to do it.  Instead of making “resolutions” which is a “firm decision to do or not to do something”, we need to make a resolve to find solutions to the issues at hand.  For the most part, resolutions last about a month or so.  Then life steps in and we return back to the way we were doing things.

Resolving things on the other hand involves a seeking for answers, investigation to the roots of problems and a hope to find the solutions.  It can be just one person or a group of people determined to find a better end result to life’s issues.

Here are some Scriptural resolves:

Exodus 23:2 You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice.

Luke 9:23  Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

2 Timothy 2:2-7; 14-19 (NKJV)
2 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

Philippians 4 :1,4-9 (NKJV)
1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.    6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Meditate on These Things
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Let us resolve to follow after the Lord

We are the deciding factor for failure or success in life.  Our life choices bring us through hard times or allow total failure.  We want sometimes to blame others for our misery and while they certainly can add to our problems, they are not the end of the problems.  In Christ Jesus, we have hope and help in all kinds of life issues.

Let us choose to seek Him first, allow the Holy Spirit to direct our thoughts and lead us to the answers we need to live a godly and joy filled life!  One of my favorite verses in the Scriptures is:

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Yes, Amen!  My prayer for all of you is a blessed, Jesus-filled year in 2019.