Happy Friday Friends! Today I am taking a slight step back from the arrogant, and somewhat ignorant, stance I have about the measures this country is taking to prevent the massive spread of COVID-19. I understand the importance of trying to bring the rapid expansion of the virus to a screeching halt by cancelling so many large gatherings. I, personally, have complete faith in my Savior and protector, and I, also, have absolute trust in God’s plan for my life. If it’s His will that I might contract a disease which could devastate my current lifestyle, then His will be done. This is where I was coming from when I wrote yesterday’s post. Today’s post is aimed at those that struggle with the “Why’s” when tragedy is gripping the entire world.

My goal for 2020 was to share only Bible verses from the New Testament, but today, in the midst of this chaotic storm caused by COVID-19, I want to share one of my favorite Psalms. Psalm 57 is a song written by David as he was fleeing King Saul who was seeking to kill David out of jealousy. David was in the midst of a great storm in his life and he wrote this beautiful song to show that even in the throngs of fear and danger, you can always praise the Lord.

Disease is a great mystery in this life. We believe that God is the creator of everything, which would mean He creates the good and the bad, He creates life and death. So believing that, we therefore should believe that God is the creator of diseases. This is a struggle for many to grasp, because they want to see God just as the Good, good, father. But if you look at the Old Testament, you see that God was the stern, disciplining father, who very often punished the Jewish people for turning away from Him. So maybe God creates these tragedies to remind us all that God is still in control of everything. Or, perhaps, God is not the only creator in this world. Mankind has proven to be a creator and inventor. But, also, the devil is creative and cunning. Maybe disease and death are the result of satan’s ultimate goal to steal us from away from God.

For all I had hoped to raise awareness about how far this world is turning away from God with the Common Sense Reborn project, sometimes it takes a tragedy to force the world back to God. In the midst of the unexplained, clinging to the hope and faith in Jesus and God is all we have.

March 13

¹Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,

for in you I take refuge.

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings

until the disaster has passed.

²I cry out to God Most High,

to God, who vindicates me.

³He sends from heaven and saves me,

rebuking those who hotly pursue me-

God sends forth His love and His faithfulness.

⁴I am in the midst of lions;

I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts-

men whose teeth are spears and arrows,

whose tongues are sharp swords.

⁵Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

let your glory be over all the earth.

⁶They spread a net for my feet-

I was bowed down in distress.

They dug a pit in my path-

but they have fallen into it themselves.

⁷My heart, O God, is steadfast,

my heart is steadfast;

I will sing and make music.

⁸Awake, my soul!

Awake, harp and lyre!

I will awaken the dawn.

⁹I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;

I will sing of you among the peoples.

¹⁰For great is your love, reaching to the heavens’

your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

¹¹Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

let your glory be over all the earth. (Psalm 57)

Reading plan:  Luke 10

Deeper reading plan:  1 Samuel 14-16

Prayer and meditation:  continue to pray for your request from day 1 and pray for anyone affected by the coronavirus.

Fitness challenge:  3 sets of our 7×14 challenge.  This week, do nice, controlled, slow repititions:

1.  Standard push-up                2.  Sit-up or crunches

3.  Air squats                                4.  Hand-release push-up

5.  Leg lifts                                    6.  Lunges (7-each leg)7.  4-count flutter kicks