I claim Psalm 27 as my birthday psalm, because I was born on the 27^th day of the month. A psalm that speaks to faith and confidence, dedication and patience, and dependence on the strength of God, these verses shore up my heart daily.

Fear is a debilitating emotion, and it plagues humans. David knew times of fear, and I have, too, but David knew where to turn when the fears arose. I can learn from him.

Fear brings darkness and death, but the Lord is my light and my salvation. Fear paralyzes, but the Lord is the strength of my life.

Fear stumbles under attack, but faith in God gives confidence and strength to stand. Fear brings depression and sorrow, but faith sings praises to God in the hard times of life.

Fear isolates, but faith calls to God for deliverance.

Fear trembles when enemies press, but faith realizes that God will help and have mercy. Faith reaches out to God for guidance and deliverance.

In Psalm 27 I find:

• My life’s goal in verse 4 – “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.”
• The reality of my life in verse 13 – “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”
• My daily marching orders in verse 14 – “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”

For more than sixty years, through prosperous times and difficulties, through sorrow and song, God has cemented the truth of this psalm in my heart. He has been my Light, my Salvation, my Strength, my Deliverer, my Confidence, my Hiding Place, my Joy, my Help.

Today, I say with David, “I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle: I will sing, yes, I will sing praises unto the Lord.”

Today, as my heart seeks to serve Him, I will wait on Him to guide each step and I will find my strength in Who He is.

Psalm 27:¹ The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

³ Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

¹³ I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

¹⁴ Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

Photo – Full Moon Rising, Beth Mims