Praying Psalm 91

First Sunday of Lent

~~~ Deuteronomy 26:4-10 ~~~ Psalm 91 ~~~

~~~ Romans 10:8-13 ~~~ Luke 4:1-13 ~~~

Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.

Psalm 91 is often prayed by our military men and women.

Why would the church give us this message at the beginning of Lent?

Jesus was led into the desert to be tempted by the devil.

Jesus found himself in what might be considered

his own personal storm.

The devil executed his strategic plan...

tempt Jesus when he was alone and seemingly most vulnerable.

Jesus did have a support system.

The devil thought he was isolated with no support system.

Jesus had the strongest support...

he had God the Father and the Holy Spirit

by his side.

The devil waited until Jesus was hungry

thinking that was his best opportunity.

The devil was wrong.

The devil is no match for Jesus,

 the Father and the Holy Spirit are one with him.

Some years ago the pine bark beetle took advantage 

of a weakness caused by the serious drought.

The devil is like the pine bark beetle...

he waits patiently until until we are caught off guard.

The devil waits until we are vulnerable...caught

 in our own personal storm.

This is when he chooses to burst into our heart.

Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.

He puts crazy thoughts into your head.

He toys with you faith.

He may even try to convince you that God has abandoned you.

He may attempt to make you believe that God

 is the cause of your troubles.

“everyone who calls on the name

 of the Lord will be saved.”

Praying with the words of psalm 91 fortifies our soul,

giving us the strength to stand up against the devil.

Valentine's Day traditionally celebrates love...

Love does not waiver confronted with the devil.

Love is the key...to resisting evil.

Love of God.

Trusting that the love of God will keep

 our eyes and heart fixed on Jesus.

Believe God is with you at all times.

Pray with Psalm 91. It will bring you comfort.

~~~ Peace ~~~

Angelic Defenders

~~~ Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels ~~~
~~~ Revelation 12:7-12AB ~~~ Psalm 138 ~~~ John 1:47-51 ~~~ 

Jesus answered and said to him,
“Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”

Whether or not angels exist is not determined
by whether or not we believe they do or do not exist.
How many times have you believed in something because you needed to?
There was some benefit to your believing.
Maybe believing in angels brings you comfort.
Perhaps you believe because of the Bible stories
surrounding angel appearances.
Angels are messengers from God.

Today we have the archangels...the highest rank among angels.
They are given the title of saints because they are 'holy ones'.
Typically there are believed to be seven archangels.

Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael are among the most
well known of the archangels.
They each have special significance...
Michael, who is like unto God,
defeated Satan protects us in our faith.
Gabriel, strength of God, heralds the mysteries
of God such as the Incarnation.
Raphael, healer of God, helped Tobit of his blindness
and aided in the marriage of Sarah.
He is the patron of travelers and of nurses, because he is associated
with moving the waters in the healing pool of Bethesda.

We are constantly being seduced by the devil and fooled by his schemes.
The devil never tires of trying to attack and destroy us.
Today we should ask these archangels for their protection
 over ourselves, our country, and our world.

“They defend mankind and defend the God-man, 
the superior man, Jesus Christ who is the perfection 
of humanity, the most perfect,” he said.

Words from Pope Francis in his homily
delivered today speaking about the Archangels.

The Archangels are beside us to do battle against the attacks of Satan.
We too must enter into this battle in our own defense.
Nathaniel took it upon himself to position himself
 where he could take in the full view of Jesus.

He climbed up into the tree so he could see,
but Jesus noticed him while he sat quietly under the fig tree.

God sends his Archangels to act against the devil,
but we are called to seek the presence of Jesus.
In the presence of Jesus we are better
equipped to discern the shadows of the evil one.

It is when we are not paying attention
that the one who desires our eternal condemnation
 sets his claws into our heart and soul.

Prayer is our best defense when in battle with the darkness of Satan.

The Archangels are here to support us in our battle...
be determined to resist the evil disguises.

Blessed with God's angelic defense team.

~~~Peace~~
Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael,
pray for us.

Beware: Too Good to be True

First Sunday of Lent



Deuteronomy 26:4-10~~Psalm 91~~~Romans 10:8-13~~~Luke 4:1-13

 

Lent begins with Jesus going away to fast and pray for 40 days.

The devil takes advantage of his isolation and tries

 to work his evil temptations on Jesus.

 

'Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan
and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days,
to be tempted by the devil.'

 

You undoubtedly have experienced your thought processes

 being clouded when you are hungry.

You can also become grouchy and more likely to be vulnerable.

Jesus was human so the devil thought he had a chance

to make Jesus listen to his lies.

The devil grossly underestimated who he was dealing with that night.

Jesus had the reinforcements from the one who sent him;

God the Father.

  

Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.

 

The words of psalm 91 gives us the assurance

that God has given his angels to guard over us.

When Jesus was tempted he did not hesitate to call on his Father.

We must teach ourselves to make calling on the Father for protection a habit.

We must practice this way of praying when we are not in the throws of temptations.

 

 

 

God is closer than you might think...right in your heart. 

 

The word is near you,
in your mouth and in your heart—that is, the word of faith that we preach— 

 

God will not abandon or forsake you when you call on him.

 

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

When the devil is placing before you a picture too good to be true

listen to the small voice of truth inside. 

The word of the Lord is spirit and truth.

The devil may not be able to outsmart Jesus,

but we must be vigilant to his trickery.

 

The Lord is near to all who call on him.

Lord, your presence in my life makes it more likely

 that I will be able to call for your assistance.