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As The Apple Of Your Eye

          I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. (Psalm 17:6-9)

          If you read about plotting a novel, it’s all about man versus… man, nature, himself, God, etc. The reason that resonates is because life is like that. So often, it seem like it’s me against everything, or perhaps more accurately, everything against me. Oh, I know it’s not true. Most of the time everyone else is going about their lives just as I’m going about mine, and I know the weather doesn’t have anything against me, but this weekend is a big project and I can’t get started on the biggest part of it until Friday, so everything is looming large and theatrically threatening. I’m no good at looking forward positively unless I’m moving forward.
          This morning’s passage is one of those prayers I need to turn my mind toward. David didn’t seem to face the future, even the “I can’t get started yet” future, with trepidation. Or did he? He spends a lot of time praying about people who oppose him. I’d like to think those were prayers of confidence and real need, not amorphous anxiety.
          There are parts of this prayer that I really love, and that I think I need to incorporate into my life more often. First, confidence. “…you will answer me.” I was going to say that I struggle with this, but I really don’t. I think I expect God to answer just as much as David expected it. The difference is that I expect the answer God gives to be “No.”
          Secondly, audacity. “Show me the wonders of Your great love,” and “Keep me as the apple of Your eye.” Right now, those are translating into two ideas. First, a safe and easy trip home, no snow and ice, particularly in the mountains. And secondly, a beautiful trip home. Usually, we travel through those mountains in the dead of night and I’m stressed because there’s no knowing when or where we’re going to be able to stop. This time, we’re stopping in Columbia and Beckley. I think that will mean part of two days driving through the Appalachians during the day.
         Which means – attitude adjustment needed. Trust needed. Do I believe that God will keep me as the apple of His eye, as He did David? That doesn’t mean there won’t be danger, but do I trust?


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