My Rock // Chelynn Broughton

If you haven’t read I and II Samuel, you may not know about all the struggles that David faced during his long life. Most of the Psalms are written by David during these difficult times. He spent much of his young life trying to avoid the death warrant the king placed on his head, but he stayed faithful in his relationship with God through all of it. When we are praying through the Psalms, sometimes his prayers seem so far off from our lives, but some of them are similar to what we are experiencing. Psalm 28 is one of those that is pretty spot on with what our nation is going through right now.

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“To you, Lord, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit. Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.”

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Father God, You are my rock, my firm foundation. Hear my prayer dear Lord. I cry out to you for help and lift my hands towards Heaven.

“Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts. Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work; repay them for what their hands have done and bring back on them what they deserve.”

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Please help me to not be like those who speak kind words to their friends and then plot to destroy them. God, punish them for their evil actions and measure out their punishment in proportion to their wickedness.

“Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”

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Praise you Lord for hearing my cries for mercy. You are my strength and my protection. I trust You, Lord, with all my heart. You fill my heart with so much joy that I want to sing songs of worship.

“The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.”

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Thank you Lord for giving me strength during these hard times. Please make your presence known to those in power. Bless our nation and lead your people; be our shepherd and carry us in your arms forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen

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Are you remaining strong in your faith even in these chaotic times? Know that God is faithful to His word. He will bless those who stand firm in their faith through their struggles.

Chelynn is a contributing writer for Shaken and Stirred. She is a long-time daughter of Christ, a wife, mother of two amazing adult children, and Nonnie to four beautiful grandchildren. She teaches Senior English at Charles Page High School and is also a Realtor for Keller Williams. She enjoys all things summer including boating, vacationing, and swimming.

Photo by Ben Karpinski on Unsplash

How Lovely // Mary Swafford

I’m late.  I’m late in writing this blog.  I totally spaced that my blog was due to post on Monday this week.  I never thought about it until I laid down to sleep last night and then it hit me!

I’m late.  But God is always right on time.  Our theme this month for our blog is praying through the Psalms.  I randomly chose a Psalm that I remembered enjoying during our recent study of the Psalms but knew ultimately that God would direct me to another when it came time to write.  

I’m so thankful for His timing.  Had I written my blog on time, I would’ve missed the beauty of listening to the ladies at the tall table at Boulder Coffee today as they wrapped up their final bible study gathering for the summer.  They have been studying Psalm 23 for the last 8 weeks.  I have enjoyed hearing bits and pieces here and there of their conversations of how God has spoken to them through the word.  Today was no different.  There was a lull in activity at the coffee shop which allowed me to hear one of them beautifully describing how God had pointed her to Psalm 84.

I stopped listening to her and started reading the Psalm for myself.  And I knew.  I knew God ordained this moment and this is the Psalm I’m going to pray with you.

As I pray, I hope that you will pray with me too.  Listen to the words of the Psalmist.  The words of God.  Allow them to penetrate your spirit and share with me in the comments how God spoke to you through Psalm 84.

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How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies.  I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord.  With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.

God, I love you Lord.  I want to be with you, Lord.  I want to feel your presence here with me now.  God I thank you for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ and the intimacy that knowing Him brings.  God let your presence wash over me.

Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your alter, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!  What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises.

God you take care of even the sparrows needs, Lord how much more will you care for mine?  With your tender love you provide for all of creation.  My King and my God!  What joy you give me.  Lord, I worship you with all that I am.

What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.  When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs.  The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.  They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.

God, you are my strength.  When I am weak, you are strong.  I give my burdens to you and when I lay them down, you will pick them up and carry them for me.  You will be my strength when I have none.  When I am thirsty, you will be my refreshment.  When I am hungry, you will be my nourishment.  

O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer.  Listen oh God of Jacob.  O God, look with favor upon the king, our shield!  Show favor to the one you have anointed.  

God, listen when I pray.  Don’t let my cry go unheard.  God you know what is on my heart.  Sometimes it is more than I can even speak.  But you know my thoughts before I have them and my words before I say them.  

A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!  I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.

God, I want to be in your presence.  More than anything else, Lord, I want to serve you.  I surrender myself to you.  I give you everything.  My life, my marriage, my family, my home, my possessions, my relationships.  They all come from you and I surrender them to you.  

For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.

Just like when you lead the Israelites out of Egypt and you were their cloud and their fire, God you are my light.  You show me the way to go, which path to follow.  And you are my shield, protecting me from the enemy.

He gives us grace and glory.  The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.

Thank you for your goodness Lord.

O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.

I trust in you Lord Jesus.  I love you Lord.  Amen.

Mary Swafford is the founder of Shaken & Stirred, Meals that Matter, Coffee Talk, and a Co-Owner of Boulder Coffee in downtown Sand Springs. She is a wife, a mother of 3 beautiful children, but most importantly a daughter of the most high God. You are likely to find her chugging or serving coffee, sitting in a tattooist’s chair, or making friends out of strangers.

Photo by Cédric VT on Unsplash