Strength of My Heart
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Psalm 20:7-9
7. Some boast of chariots, and some of horses; but we boast of the name of the Lord our God. 8. They will collapse and fall; but we shall rise and stand upright. 9. Give victory to the king, O Lord; answer us when we call.
Psalm 126
1. When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. 2. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." 3. The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad. 4. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses in the Negeb! 5. May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy! 6. He that goes forth weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
Psalm 73:21-26
21. When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, 22. I was stupid and ignorant, I was like a beast toward thee. 23. Nevertheless I am continually with thee; thou dost hold my right hand. 24. Thou dost guide me with thy counsel, and afterward thou wilt receive me to glory. 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is nothing upon earth that I desire besides thee. 26. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.
The first conscious thought when I awoke this morning was, “Life after Christmas . . . how do I live like I embrace that baby in a manger?” In truth, it wasn’t nearly that articulate! I think it really ended initially after “Christmas!” But then I opened the subscription e-mail I receive every day with scripture passages and I was directed to Psalms. The theme of the e-mailed verses and what I focused on in each of these psalms, and several others I read is consistent: Rely upon God. He is all we need to live.
That’s pretty simplistic, and yet I find myself reassured by that! I very nearly bypassed Christmas this year! Were it not for the kids and Jim, and our traditional Christmas Eve open house, I wouldn’t even have put up the tree. I’m not sure if I viewed it as one more thing to do, or if I was feeling over run by the world’s view of Christmas. I kept hearing about the predictions for retail sales and what the hottest new gadget was, and what the stars were getting for Christmas, and it really just became a burden to even keep up! But Jim and I went to Vespers at St. John’s Church a couple of weeks ago. And then we participated in a candlelight walk to Libbie Hill and sang traditional Christmas carols. I got it then! I was like Scrooge after the visit from the three ghosts. I felt Christmas that night and thoroughly enjoyed the holiday and have savored these days following Christmas.
But what now? Next week I’ll be back at work. Each day beyond Christmas I am more and more challenged to retain that glow, that wonder, that quiet, still joy of the birth of a tiny baby who grew to be our Savior, Redeemer, God and man, Son and brother, fulfillment of the prophets of old and King of the World. So these psalms reminded me of those feelings. Quiet assurance that God is in charge and cares for me and watches over me, and I am calm within to know that God is the “strength of my heart and my portion for ever.”
I don’t like to make New Year’s resolutions, but I have made an after-Christmas resolution today! I am going to pray about how God wants me to live in the “after-Christmas glow.” I’m going to seek His wisdom and guidance as I plan out the year to come. I know for certain some of what He has tasked me to do. But there is so much that is uncertain—so many wonderful possibilities, and I am not a patient person. Jim has told me he thinks “You need to pray about all this and see what God tells you!” Yes, he is a blessing, but I just hate it when he’s so sensible and wise! I really want to be indulged and whine and wish I was in charge of everything! But, fortunately, God is His wisdom does not allow that to be the case!
I hope you’ll spend today contemplating life after Christmas—and perhaps reframe it to “waiting for Easter!”
Mary
