The Psalm 27 Sword for Battling Fear

by Paul Tautges | June 5, 2013 10:38 am

Psalm 27 is a powerful weapon against the enemy of fear and its power to enslave our hearts. Meditating on its truths provides a key to unlocking the prison of anxiety, dispels our fears, and gives us hope.

Read through Psalm 27 four times. Focus on one particular element each time by asking yourself a question:

1. What truths about God did David talk to himself about?
2. What renewed determinations/commitments did David make?
3. What prayers of faith did his meditation on truth produce?
4. What expressions of confidence resulted?

Here are some to get you started. What others can you find?

TRUTHS TO SPEAK TO YOURSELF

• “The Lord is my light and salvation.” (v. 1)
• “The Lord is the defense of my life.” (v. 1)
• Because these two statements are true, “Whom shall I fear? Whom shall I dread?”
• “He will conceal me in His tabernacle,” i.e. He will hide me in His presence. (v. 5)
• “Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD” (v. 14).

RENEWED DETERMINATIONS/COMMITMENTS

In the midst of terrifying events, which are described in verses 2-3, David is determined to maintain his God-focus: “In spite this I shall be confident.” There are more expressions of renewed determination.

• I will seek the Lord. This will be my primary preoccupation (v. 4).
• Until I die, I will worship the Lord with God’s people (v. 4).
• I will behold the beauty of the Lord (v. 4).
• I will think deliberately (meditate) on Him, His works, and His truth (v. 4).

PRAYERS OF FAITH

Pray this as your own:

Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice, and be gracious to me and answer me. When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, O LORD, I shall seek.” Do not hide Your face from me, do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not abandon me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation! For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me up. Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me in a level path because of my foes. Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence.

EXPRESSIONS OF CONFIDENCE

• “Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; though war arise against me, in spite of this I shall be confident.” (v. 3)
• My head will be lifted up and I will again sing (v. 6).
  
• “You have been my help” (v. 9).
• Others have forsaken me, but the Lord will never do so. Instead, “He will take me up” (v. 10)
• “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living” (v. 13).

There is no surer place to find godly counsel for yourself and others than the Word of God. The Word of God is the sword of the spirit, our weapon to wield in our spiritual wars (Ephesians 6: 17). It is also our soul-food.Meditate upon it. Talk to yourself with it. Pray it. Feed on it. “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

*A revised and expanded version of this post is now published in the 31-day devotional, ANXIETY: Knowing God’s Peace[1]]

Source URL: https://counselingoneanother.com/2013/06/05/the-psalm-27-sword-for-battling-fear/

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