Hi.
Welcome to the fe2 Women’s Mentoring Network.
Welcome to the fe2 Women’s Mentoring Network.
David’s son Absolom was revolting against him and trying to gather other Israelite troops to be on his side. It was so tense that David had to flee Jerusalem. During that time he cried out to God and it is recorded in Psalm 3:1-8. Read the passage and see if you can relate to David in his distress. Did the Lord hear his battle cry? What was the promise in verse 3? This was David’s proclamation of God’s promise.
Read Exodus 15: 1-18. This is another battle cry to the Lord but this time from Moses. They sang this prayer after the victorious march across the Red Sea as they were fleeing the Egyptians. What common themes do you pick up from this passage? Both passages have been cries to the Lord as they remembered His faithfulness, were reassured of His presence and looked ahead with confidence.
In these passages, Jesus is depicted as our Divine Warrior in the present circumstances as well as the future promise of glory. Have you identified your enemies? Do you see similar themes of the Divine Warrior showing up in your life? How did David and Moses cry out to their Divine Warrior and learn to trust Him?
Psalm 3:3 says the Lord is our shield and the lifter of our head. Think about the times in your life that your head needs to be “lifted”. Are you cowering in fear or hiding in shame or just plain weary? How has the Lord been the lifter of your head in those times? Meditate on His faithfulness to provide and protect you during those times.
The word used for salvation in the above passages is yeshuw’ah. It is safe protection, a deliverance of God’s people in the present but also with the understanding of a future promise. Even if your circumstances don’t change and the enemies around you are closing in, do you truly believe the Lord’s presence and promise of salvation is yours?
As the Lord lifts our head, we must keep our eyes on Him and remember not to forget His promise of deliverance - whether we get what we want or not. We tend to focus on looking for an ABSENCE of pain and enemies rather than clinging to Him as the PRESENCE of our salvation. Can you think of a time when he has been your peace in the midst of the storm? Are you longing for Him or the deliverance from something or someone?
John 4 tells us about a lady who went to the well to draw water at high noon to avoid people - because her lifestyle was shameful and she hid her face from others. Once the Lord “lifted her head” at the well and she gazed on Him, her life was changed. She realized that she had been looking for water that would not satisfy when what she needed was Jesus, the source of all living water.
What did she do immediately after the Lord lifted her head and her shame was gone? Read about it in John 4:28-39. When the Lord has been the lifter of your head from shame, discouragement, and fear...what have you done? Do you keep it to yourself or face your enemies head-on with boldness?
In John 4:35, the Lord tells the disciples to lift up their eyes and see that the fields are ready for harvest. We must get the gaze off of ourselves and see others through His eyes of mercy and compassion. If we join the lady at the well and share what Jesus has done for us with the people around us, what could happen? Read John 4:39 again. Are you boldly bearing witness to others about the Lord, the gracious lifter of your head, who delivers you from your own shame and doubt?
In order to keep the focus off of our enemies and circumstances and boldly bear witness for Him, we must ground ourselves first through prayer. Like Vann challenged us on Sunday, are you praying risky prayers? Do they first include worship and allegiance before your petition?
May we all gaze on Him, the lifter of our Head, and courageously face the giants in our lives and bear witness to His salvation.