Ending the week, with the Lord….
~Storm over New York, July 18, 2012 (click pic to enlarge)~
Psalm 17
Hear, Lord, my plea for justice;
pay heed to my cry;
Listen to my prayer
spoken without guile.
From you let my vindication come;
your eyes see what is right.
You have tested my heart,
searched it in the night.
You have tried me by fire,
but find no malice in me.
My mouth has not transgressed
as humans often do.
As your lips have instructed me,
I have kept the way of the law.
My steps have kept to your paths;
my feet have not faltered.
I call upon you; answer me, O God.
Turn your ear to me; hear my prayer.
Show your wonderful love,
you who deliver with your right arm
those who seek refuge from their foes.
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings
from the violence of the wicked.
My ravenous enemies press upon me;
they close their heart,
till their mouths with proud roaring.
Their steps even now encircle me;
they watch closely, keeping low to the ground,
Like lions eager for prey,
like young lions lurking in ambush.
Rise, O Lord, confront and cast them down;
rescue me so from the wicked.
Slay them with your sword;
with your hand, Lord, slay them;
snatch them from the world in their prime.
Their bellies are being filled with your friends;
their children are satisfied too,
for they share what is left with their young.
I am just — let me see your face;
when I awake, let me be filled with your presence.
~Eowyn
What a beautiful and relevant Psalm in which to end the week!
Amen… nice prayer…
Is there really a God? Is there really a Divine Creator or did the universe around us just “evolve?” What an incredible thought to even imagine that there could be a supernatural being so powerful as to create a universe. Wow! Now that’s a scary thought! Do I really have to stand in judgment before this Creator? I’m scared to even think about it, what would I say? What manner of being could create a world? If such a God exists, it is most frightening indeed.
Dear ragman,
I certainly find it more plausible that a mind-bogglingly intelligent and powerful supernatural being created the Universe, instead of the Universe coming into existence by sheer accident. That such a God exists is frightening, but also comforting and marvelous and joyous. For this God, being so incredibly intelligent and creative, is also incredibly loving. It took me a journey of 10 years to not just to believe in Him, but also to finally realize that He loves me — in spite of myself (gratuitous love), in spite of my not believing in Him for so many years. First came the realization (or knowledge), then came the feeling. Now, I know and feel that He loves me — a love that is deeper, purer, complete and more profound than any I’ve ever experienced from any human being. My wish for you is that you have the grace to begin your journey home.
Peace ♥
Thankyou for the nice enlightening reply!
When I first became a Christian, I doubted my salvation for several years. I simply didn’t understand the Bible enough to KNOW whether or not I was saved. I had dozens of questions going through my mind. Did I have enough faith? Did I really “believe” on Christ? If I did believe, then why am I unsure about my salvation? What if I’m not saved? Is God upset with me because I keep asking Him to save me? Does it show a lack of faith because I keep asking God to save me? Why can’t I find peace on the matter?
Over the years which followed, I purposed in my heart to learn the Bible. I wanted to know everything about salvation and faith there was to know. Anytime I heard a sermon about faith or believing, I listened attentively at the edge of my seat. I read every Gospel tract I could get my hands on, each several times through. Time and time again I would admit to God I was a sinner and ask Him to save me. I was scared. I remember reminding God in prayer that I had a right as His child to KNOW if I was saved. I told God that I would get saved in a heartbeat if I wasn’t saved. The big problem was that I didn’t KNOW 100% sure whether I was saved or lost. I was confused and uncertain about my salvation.
Dear ragman, my brother in Christ,
Unlike some denominations that believe one is automatically and forever saved when one acknowledges Jesus Christ as lord and savior, my Catholic faith is that conversion is only the first step if “salvation” means the assurance that one will “go to Heaven” after this mortal life. That depends on not just conversion, faith, and belief, but also how we live out our lives. I honestly am not worried about whether I’m saved or not. What matters most to me is what Jesus told us about the Greatest Commandment of all, which is to love God with our whole heart, our whole soul, our whole mind, and with all our strength. For if we love God, we will naturally abide by His other commandments.
That’s what I tell my sweet Lord every day — that I love Him, fiercely, with my whole heart, my whole soul, my whole mind, and with all my strength. [It was only in hindsight that I realized my 10-year journey back to Him did involve my soul (the recognition of my sinfulness), mind (the belief that God exists), and heart (the realization that He loves me in spite of myself, and that I love Him).]
Leave your salvation to Him and be at Peace.
The doubts continued for several years. The Holy Spirit showed me many wonderful truths and finally, in time, I grasped the assurance of my salvation. I had been saved all along but lacked the Bible knowledge to be at perfect peace about it. I had been afraid of something which I didn’t understand. I had been looking to a prayer and a past experience instead of looking to what was in my heart in the present. I was focusing on myself, rather than focusing upon the righteousness of Jesus Christ.