May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace! – Psalm 29:11
Catherine Marshall was an American author whose works included inspirational books of both fiction and non-fiction. Among them, perhaps the most notable, are Christy and A Man Called Peter. The daughter of a pastor, Catherine grew up in Tennessee. While in college, she met Peter Marshall, whom she would later marry. Peter served as a pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C., later becoming Chaplain of the United States Senate. Catherine’s book A Man Called Peter is a biography of her husband, which sold millions of copies and was later made into a movie. Her life was not without its trials, for her husband died suddenly when their son was only 9 years old. In one of her writings, Catherine Marshall said, “Once we recognize our need for Jesus, then the building of our faith begins. It is a daily, moment-by-moment life of absolute dependence upon Him for everything.”
Edward Bouverie Pusey, an Anglican minister and Professor of Hebrew at Oxford University, wrote, “God does not take away trials or carry us over them, but strengthens us through them.” Today’s verse promises that the Lord not only provides the necessary strength, He adds peace. Theologian Charles H. Spurgeon asks, “Why are we weak when we have divine strength to flee to? Why are we troubled when the Lord’s own peace is ours? Jesus the mighty God is our peace—what a blessing is this today!”
The lyrics to a praise and worship song mention both strength and peace when it states, “In Christ alone, my hope is found. He is my light, my strength, my song. This Cornerstone is solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease. My Comforter, my All in All, here in the love of Christ I stand.” Rest in the mighty power of God for both strength and blessing today. Pray for members of the U.S. Defense Department and Armed Forces to know that true strength and peace come from the Lord.
Today’s Verse: Psalm 29:11
May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Psalm 29
Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over many waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth
and strips the forests bare,
and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
