{"id":1091,"date":"2010-04-25T00:02:41","date_gmt":"2010-04-25T00:02:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/markdroberts\/2010\/04\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-1.html"},"modified":"2010-04-25T00:02:41","modified_gmt":"2010-04-25T00:02:41","slug":"sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2010\/04\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-1.html","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Lord Is for Me<\/b><\/h3>\n
READ Psalm 118:1-29<\/a><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n

\nThe LORD is for me, so I will have no fear.
     What can mere people do to me?
\n<\/p>\n

Psalm 118:6<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Psalm
\n118 was written in the context of hostility. The unnamed psalm writer
\nwas facing threats from his enemies, who hated him and sought to kill
\nhim. But the Lord rescued and protected him (118:6-13). <\/p>\n

Yet in
\nthe midst of his struggle, when the outcome wasn’t clear from a human
\nperspective, the psalmist prayed to the Lord and found reassurance. He
\nbegan to look at his situation from a divine perspective: “The LORD is
\nfor me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”
\n(118:6). Though he faced danger and even the threat of death, the
\npsalmist was comforted and emboldened by a simple truth: “The Lord is
\nfor me.”<\/p>\n

These five words translate only two in Hebrew: yhwh li.<\/em>
\nSo few and such simple words encapsulate some of the most profound and
\npowerful truths of life: God is for me. God is on my side. God wants
\nthe best for me. God will never let me down. God will help me. Yhwh li<\/em> . . . God is for me!<\/p>\n

How
\nI wish I believed this more consistently! I think of times in my life
\nwhen I felt besieged and criticized. Or I remember other times when
\nfear gripped my heart and wouldn’t let go. If only this truth could
\nhave penetrated and permeated my soul: God is for me. God<\/em> is for me<\/em>. God is for me. God is<\/em> for me. Yes, he is!<\/p>\n

And
\nGod is for you too. He is there when you need him most. He is there
\nwhen you can sense his presence. And he is there even when he seems
\nvery far away. Here is a truth upon which you can base your life: God
\nis for you! <\/p>\n

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION<\/strong>: When
\nhave you sensed God’s presence in a powerful way? What are you facing
\ntoday for which you need the reassurance of God’s presence? How would
\nyou live differently if you truly believed that God is for you?<\/p>\n

PRAYER<\/strong>: 
\nO Lord, thank you for being for me. Thank you for being there when I
\nneed you. Thank you for wanting the very best for me. Thank you for
\nencouraging me when I feel down. Thank you for strengthening me when I
\nam weak. Thank you for being there, even when others let me down. Thank
\nyou, dear Lord, for being for me. <\/p>\n

May I live today as if this
\nwere true. May I trust you, rely upon you, seek you, and serve you.
\nEven as you are for me today, may I be for you!<\/p>\n

_________________________________________________<\/p>\n

<\/a>Would you like to receive a Daily Reflection like this one in your email inbox each morning?  <\/strong>
\nHere’s how . . . . <\/em><\/strong>
\nThis devotional comes from The High Calling of Our Daily Work <\/em>(www.thehighcalling.org<\/a>), a wonderful website about work and God<\/em>. You can read my Daily Reflections<\/a> there, or sign up to have them sent to your email inbox<\/a> each day. This website contains lots of encouragement for people who are trying to live out their faith in the workplace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Lord Is for Me READ Psalm 118:1-29   The LORD is for me, so I will have no fear.     What can mere people do to me? Psalm 118:6 Psalm 118 was written in the context of hostility. The unnamed psalm writer was facing threats from his enemies, who hated him and sought to kill him.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[244,122,242],"class_list":["post-1091","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sunday-inspiration","tag-high-calling","tag-psalm-118","tag-sunday-inspiration"],"yoast_head":"\nSunday Inspiration from The High Calling - Mark D. 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Roberts","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","caption":"Mark D. Roberts"},"description":"The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a pastor, author, retreat leader, speaker, and blogger. Since October 2007 he has been the Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas. Before coming to Laity Lodge, he was for sixteen years the Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California (a city in Orange County about forty miles south of Los Angeles). Before his time at Irvine Pres, Mark served on the staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood as Associate Pastor of Education. (Thanks to Janel Pahl for taking the photo to the right.) Mark studied at Harvard University, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in the Study of Religion, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins. He has taught classes in New Testament for Fuller Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Mark has written several books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005), Dare to Be True (WaterBrook, 2003), Jesus Revealed (WaterBrook, 2002), After \"I Believe\" (Baker, 2002), and Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Word, 1993). His most recent book is Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Crossway, 2007). He is currently working on a commentary on Ephesians that will be published by Zondervan in 2014. Mark writes a devotional for The High Calling of Our Daily Work, a website associated with Laity Lodge. His \"Daily Reflections\" can be viewed online or sent as a daily email. If you wish to receive this email, just visit TheHighCalling.org and sign up. Mark serves on the editorial board of Worship Leader magazine, where he publishes articles and reviews, including his regular column \"Lyrical Poetry.\" Additionally, he has published dozens of articles in leading magazines and journals. He often speaks for churches and other Christian groups, and has been interviewed on over seventy-five radio programs nationwide. Mark is married to Linda, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Spiritual Director, and a retreat speaker. They have two children, Nathan and Kara.For Publicity Photos and Bio Statements for Mark, please check here. Mark's Dossier Professional History: Senior Director and Scholar-in Residence, Laity Lodge, October 2007 to present. Senior Pastor Irvine Presbyterian Church, June 1991 to September 2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor Fuller Theological Seminary, 1994 to 2007. Courses: New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Adjunct Instructor San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1995 to 2001. Courses: New Testament Greek and Exegesis Associate Pastor of Education First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, 1987-1991 Teaching Fellow Harvard University, 1980-1983 Education: Ph.D. in the Study of Religion. Harvard University, 1992. Area: New Testament and Christian Origins M.A. in the Study of Religion Harvard University, 1984. A.B. magna cum laude in Philosophy Harvard University, 1979. Phi Beta Kappa; Danforth Fellowship Books: Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Crossway, 2007 No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer. WaterBrook, 2005 Dare to Be True: Living in the Freedom of Complete Honesty. WaterBrook, 2003. Jesus Revealed: Know Him Better to Love Him Better. WaterBrook, 2002. After \"I Believe\": Experiencing Authentic Christian Living. Baker, 2002. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther in the Communicator's Commentary Series. Word, 1993. Contacting Mark: You can reach Mark at: E-mail: mark@markdroberts.com mroberts@laitylodge.org Phone: Laity Lodge: (830) 792-1216 Address: Laity Lodge 719 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/author\/mroberts"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1091","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/214"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1091"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1091\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1091"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1091"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1091"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}