Read
(A song for worship.)
The Lord Will Protect
1I look to the hills!
Where will I find help?
2It will come from the Lord,
who created heaven and earth.
3The Lord is your protector,
and he won't go to sleep
or let you stumble.
4The protector of Israel
doesn't doze
or ever get drowsy.
5The Lord is your protector,
there at your right side
to shade you from the sun.
6You won't be harmed
by the sun during the day
or by the moon at night.
7The Lord will protect you
and keep you safe
from all dangers.
8The Lord will protect you
now and always
wherever you go.
Reflect
Have you ever faced a task that just seemed too overwhelming to accomplish? Whether rebuilding an engine, dealing with hurdles within your organization, or even taking the Gospel to a hostile unreached people group. I know I have! Too many times I sit at my desk, look at the needs our organization has, and then think, There is just no way we can do this!
I try to picture the hill that the psalmist saw in front of him. You and I don’t really have to take long journeys on foot these days so it can be a bit challenging for us to relate. But just imagine you had to get from one side of the valley to the other and there are these enormous hills in front of you. The hills I am used to have rocks, thorns, and other dangers along the way that make it impossible to pass. The psalmist looks at the hills and thinks, From where does my help come?
God has called us into his kingdom for the purpose of expanding his kingdom and making his name great among the nations. When you look out and see something that seems impossible to accomplish – talking with a neighbor, teaching a lesson, going around the world to an unreached people group – you can go forward with the confidence that your help will come from the Lord!
Our God does not slumber or sleep. He will keep us and protect us, and will keep us from evil, forevermore. Though we might have things come against us in this life, his salvation is eternal and in eternity we live under his shade and protection.
Respond
Father, give us boldness to go out and do your will. Help us proclaim you to the nations; and when things seem impossible help us trust that our help will come from you.
J. R. Bucklew
J.R. Bucklew is a visionary with ideas that are quickly becoming the standard in other parts of the world. Born a hearing child of deaf parents (CODA), his first language growing up was American Sign Language (ASL), and he still considers ASL his heart language. He has a strong desire for the Deaf community to know and understand the Word of God. This has allowed him to travel to many parts of the world, both ministering to and being an advocate for the Deaf. Prior to coming to Albuquerque, NM, JR and his wife ministered to the Deaf in Ethiopia. They started a Deaf church and opened a café that exclusively employed Deaf people. They also formed two sign language centers and helped train others to work with the Deaf. JR’s journey with Deaf Bible began in 2012 and is now President and visionary-lead of the Deaf Bible Society. JR also serves on the boards of several other Deaf ministries in the United States.