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1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh— my adversaries and foes— they shall stumble and fall.3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident. 4 One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. 5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock. 6 Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. 7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! 8 "Come," my heart says, "seek his face!" Your face, Lord, do I seek. 9 Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation! 10 If my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up. 11 Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. 12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and they are breathing out violence. 13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! (Psalm 27 NRSV)
Dear Friend, a blessed and tremendous Thursday to you! Thank you for praying for those whom asked prayers of us yesterday. I pray the Lord bless and protect you today and all days!
I love verse 4 of this passage for it reminds me of my love of the Lord and His Church at an early age. My joy and happiness was in being in that place and taking part in all that was offered for that day. I even told my parents that I would be better served if I could go to Sunday school and worship Monday through Friday and maybe a day of regular, public school on Sunday. That never worked out, but I did become a minister and while my future bride had been praying for a man who loved to go to church she soon told me that I lived in church. I confess that as a retired pastor I do miss having full and easy access to the church building, but to the Lord I still enjoy full and easy access.
David was raised to love the Lord and his life allowed him to desire to build the Lord a house, but he knew that God was everywhere and everywhere was exactly where he found Him. I found God through forced worship at my Dad's request, but upon finding God I no longer had to be forced; I found joy in going there and I still do. David did, too. In the pasture, in the wilderness, in the palace, in his writing and singing of these psalms.
Lent is a season of seeking, a time when we draw near to God through prayer, fasting, and reflection. In Psalm 27, David expresses unwavering confidence in God even in the face of trials. His words remind us that when fear and uncertainty surround us, the Lord remains our light, our salvation, and our stronghold.
The psalmist longs to dwell in the presence of God, to gaze upon His beauty and seek Him in His temple. This yearning reflects the purpose of Lent—a time to step away from distractions and fix our hearts on the One who is our refuge. Though enemies may rise and troubles may come, David declares his trust in the Lord’s goodness.
Yet, even in his confidence, David pleads with God: “Do not hide your face from me… Do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!” (v. 9). This honesty mirrors our own spiritual journeys. There are moments when God feels distant, when we struggle with doubt, grief, or fear. But Psalm 27 ends with a call to perseverance: “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (v. 14).
Lent teaches us to wait on God. It reminds us that even when we cannot see the full picture, He is working in our lives. As we walk through this season of repentance and renewal, may we hold fast to the truth that our salvation is found in Him alone.
PRAYER: Loving God, You are my light and my salvation. In times of fear and uncertainty, help me to trust in You. Draw me closer during this Lenten season, that I may seek Your presence above all else. Strengthen my heart as I wait upon You, and let my faith be rooted in the promise of Your goodness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Where do you need to trust God more fully? What fears or distractions keep you from seeking Him wholeheartedly? Offer these to Him in prayer, and take a step—whether in fasting, service, or stillness—to dwell more deeply in His presence this Lenten season.
I love you and I thank God for you! Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
