Reflections from "71"

I was just having a little snack of Red Velvet Cake (yogurt LOL) and watching my Worship Network DVD, the Psalm Series. . . .and was taken captive by a particular segment.  The scriptures seemed to resonate with my heart.  On March 1, I turned the Big 4-0, and have just been reflecting lately. . .on life, and more importantly, my desire to reflect the Light of our Savior, The Son of God.  In order to reflect His pure Light, I must face Him, turn to Him, look UP to Him.  The side of the moon that we see all lit up in the dark night sky is the side that faces the sun.  So too must we FACE the Son, look to Him, in order to reflect His goodness and light.  "Look unto Me and be ye saved."   Of course, once we have looked unto Him for salvation, we must continue to look to Him in order to reflect His light to a lost and dying world.  

As I read the scripture passage on the DVD, listening to the music and seeing scenes of God's majesty through nature, my heart agreed completely with the words that David penned those many years ago.  The verses highlighted were on the DVD, however, this entire chapter is a testimony of my heart today. . . especially on the fact of getting older.  I'll add a little prayer in blue, just from my heart to the Lord.

One final note:   An "Ah-ha" moment for me was when I was awaiting the Scripture reference to show on the DVD, I was thinking, "Wouldn't it be funny if the passage of scripture was from Psalm 40, since after all, I'm reflecting on my recent 40th birthday and how my Lord has been with me from birth??"   Then the reference came up~ Psalm 71.   The year I was born:  1971.   Ah-ha!   :)  

Psalm 71


1 In you, LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. (*Thank You for being my refuge for the past 40 years.  For the rest of my life please let me never be put to shame, Father, for in that I would bring reproach upon Your name--and that's something I don't desire to do.) 

2 In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear to me and save me.  
(*and I pray, open my ears to hear Your voice too, Father.)


3 Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress. (*Like David, my heart is trusting You, Father.)


4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel. (*keep me free from evil, Father, so that I may walk with You, freely and joyfully, for Your glory.)


5 For you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth. (*Amen!) ~~and as David said, 'Selah.'   Thank You for being my hope and confidence.  Because You are sovereign, I can have full confidence that You are in control and that You have allowed every single circumstance to come into my life, for a reason. . .to make me more of a reflection of You.


6 From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. (*40 years ago.) I will ever praise you.


7 I have become a sign to many; (*we are living epistles, known and read of all men, Father.  We can not be a true example of Your love unless:) you are my strong refuge.


8 My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.
(*Thank You, Father, for filling my mouth with Your praise, for sometimes I find the words uneasy to express.  Thank You for placing Your praise within my mouth.  May I declare Your splendor all day long.)

9 Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone. (*each passing year I will become weaker, Father, but let this be a reminder for me to spiritually die to myself  and my reliance upon self, and place whole-hearted dependance upon You, Father, because:)


10 For my enemies speak against me; those who wait to kill me conspire together.  (*my enemy has a plan for my life too, Father.  He plans to steal, kill and destroy everything You have purposed for my life.)


11 They say, “God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for no one will rescue him.”
(*For these reasons I pray, Father:)

12 Do not be far from me, my God; come quickly, God, to help me.


13 May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me
be covered with scorn and disgrace. (*I pray against the enemy in his plans to destroy not just Your purpose for my life, but for all my dear family and friends reading this as well.)


14 As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. (*You are my hope, Father.)


15 My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long—
though I know not how to relate them all. (*even though I'm unable to understand everything, Father, please help me to continue to tell of Your goodness to all, and that You are the Savior for all mankind.)


16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone. (*help me to only worship You, the Sovereign LORD; place Your praise within my heart and mouth, to share with others.)


17 Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. (*thank You for being there for me, before I was even born, and the moment I arrived into this world, You smiled, heart bursting with love, for You knew the plans You had for me, and these plans serve a purpose of giving me a hope and a future.)


18 Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come. (*I am older and much grayer than I was in my youth, Father, and You have not forsaken me.  Please allow me to declare Your power to the next generation!)


19 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, you who have done great things.  Who is like you, God? (*there is none other like You, God!)


20 Though you have made me see troubles,  many and bitter,  you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. (*and thank You for the times of trouble, for You have and will continue to use them for Your glory and my good.)


21 You will increase my honor and comfort me once more. (*I pray that my heart will remain humble, at Your feet, for You have promised to give grace to the humble, and lift up the humble hearts, in due time.)


22 I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel. (*thank You for allowing me the ability to play music, Father.  Play through my fingers, as an extension of Your praise that You've placed in my mouth, Father.  Open now, my mouth, for I have suffered from being mute, Father.  A blind man can not see, nor can a deaf person hear.  A mute person is unable to speak.  Father, I have been blind, deaf and must.  Please restore unto me my sight~may I see Your glory, Father; my hearing~may I hear Your Holy Spirit instructing me; and open my mouth so that I may speak continually of Your praise.)


23 My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I whom you have delivered. (*thank You, Father, for being there and delivering me on my first birthday, in 1971, and also on my spiritual birthday!  You have continued to deliver me from myself and sinful nature, and will continue to unleash Your power in my heart and life until my time on earth is over.)


24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion. (*May this be the song of my life, Father.  That all those who wanted to harm me, throughout my life, will be put to shame.  I do pray for You to keep a guard over my tongue. . .and in the end, please touch many lives through this vessel, drawing others to Your Son, Jesus.  May others see Your glory reflecting in my life, Father.  Thank You, Father, for the past 40 years that you've given me.  Many times it's been like a wilderness journey. . .but I know that one day, maybe even soon, I shall enter into the Promised Land.  And it's all because of You. 
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.