He Lifts Her Head

Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him."
But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.
To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. Psalm 3:2-4

This morning as I sit in a hotel room waiting to hear from my own sweet daughter, I am encouraged by the Word. I have been working on this weeks Bible study assignments trying to learn and let these words of life, wisdom and hope find their way deep into my heart, into my very being. These words from Psalm 3 stood out to me today. The images in my mind are of a vulnerable child before her father after having done something she is not proud of or that he would find disappointing.

As she stands before him with her face downcast I can just see her sighing deeply, her shoulders drooping with dread and shame. I can sense her hopelessness in that she feels she has failed herself and her father again. Because you see, this has happened before. No matter how hard she tries, there is always something that she just can't get right. Some decision she makes, some remark that escapes her lips, some judgment of another over which she feels guilt for having entertained in her mind if only for a moment.

While she stands there in her weakness she remembers all the mistakes, she confesses them to her father with a small almost inaudible voice. She desperately needs to be heard, to be consoled and to be forgiven. Just as she continues unloading the weight of these millstones around her neck, she begins to feel lightness fill her heart. Her father who loves her is standing and listening to her, not saying a word. His heart is breaking for his beloved child. He knows her pain, he feels it in his own heart.

He waits until she is finished and then, with the most tender touch he reaches for her. With his rough calloused hand scarred from his sacrifices he gently lifts her chin raising her face heavenward to the light. He has heard her. He forgives her. He restores her by bestowing His glory on her and lifts up her head surrounding her with his love and protection. She does not need to continue in shame and guilt, by his grace and in his mercy, she is his child, forever. He says to her, "your sins are forgiven daughter, your faith has saved you, go in peace."

How tender is the Father's heart toward the repentant heart of his child. It gives me hope to know that although I am not perfect and I make mistakes I can come to my heavenly father with true repentance, ask for his forgiveness and it will be granted. I do not have to walk through life with down turned head holding onto the sin of my past. I can hold my head up and walk in the protection and glory he surrounds me with. Praise God!

I thank you God for your forgiving heart and that once confessed you remember it no more. I praise you today because you are in control and you love me in spite of myself. I am encouraged because you give me strength and guidance to walk in the path you direct me to.