Wondrous Love

In the Shadow of Your Wings

A Prayer of David.

17:1 Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry!
Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!
2 From your presence let my vindication come!
Let your eyes behold the right!

3 You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night,
you have tested me, and you will find nothing;
I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
4 With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5 My steps have held fast to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.

6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my words.
7 Wondrously show your steadfast love,
O Savior of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at your right hand.

8 Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings,
9 from the wicked who do me violence,
my deadly enemies who surround me.

10 They close their hearts to pity;
with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
11 They have now surrounded our steps;
they set their eyes to cast us to the ground.
12 He is like a lion eager to tear,
as a young lion lurking in ambush.

13 Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him!
Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,
14 from men by your hand, O Lord,
from men of the world whose portion is in this life.
You fill their womb with treasure; 
they are satisfied with children,
and they leave their abundance to their infants.

15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.

The title of this psalm pretty much sums it all up. What could be more comforting than a song entitled "In the Shadow of Your Wings"? No matter what the storm, I can rest in the fact that I am ALWAYS in the shadow of an Almighty Savior's wings. He sees all, he knows all, he understands all. I am reminded of His love and His promises as I read this. I know He will never leave or forsake me. 

As I read this passage, one line sticks out to me. The last time I went to Zambia, I didn't really know what I was getting myself into and didn't really know what to be praying for. So I chose to pray one line in the song "Hosanna" by Hillsong United. It is my favorite line in a song because it seems to sum up all that we should pray as Christians. So, the first night in Zambia without knowing what the next 8 days had in store for me, I prayed "Lord, break my heart for what breaks Yours." I had know idea the depth to which I would get to see how the Lord's heart breaks for orphans over the next 8 days, and at moments the pain of the brokenness there was too much to bear. But God never gives you more than you can handle, and I learned so much about the heart of God during that week in Zambia. I think praying over one line that encompasses a lot helps me to be open to what the Lord has for me, yet allows me to be specific in my prayer preparation for going to Zambia because I always can associate that one-line prayer with going. Today, while reading Psalm 17, I realized that my prayer this summer was going to be, "God, WONDROUSLY show your STEADFAST love." I mean that in all senses. I want God to wondrously show me how He loves poor little orphans. I want him to show me how He wondrously loves such a broken place. But most of all, I want Him to show me how He wondrously loves me. 

Zambia is home for me, a place of belonging and purpose for me. I am so excited to see how much and how deeply my Savior WONDROUSLY LOVES.