Psalms Streak: A Daily Devotional in the PsalmsSample

Under God's Banner

Have you ever felt broken, rejected, or abandoned? Chances are you have, but if you haven't, you will probably feel at least one of these things sooner or later. Living in our broken world is hard, especially when you are a teen and you are still trying to figure out how to hear God's voice and the truth about who you are. God says you are enough, but what if you don't feel like enough? God says you are His child, but what if you don't feel like you belong to Him? God says you are His beloved, but what if you aren't sure what that is supposed to feel like?

Verse 4 talks about a banner that God has set up for His beloved. In the time this Psalm was written, banners served as battle flags in ancient wars. They were often attached to poles and were used to make signals for the troops or serve as rallying points. God still does that for us. He provides places and situations for us to rally, or in other words, gather back together, mourn what has happened, and encourage one another for what is to come. Picture any fight scene in a movie or novel where the heroes, after failing individually, gather together, come up with a plan, and head into battle with courage and more power than when they came.

Our brokenness, rejection, and feelings of abandonment are never meant to be dealt with alone. God sets up banners and rally points for us through Christian friends and small groups. We come together under God's banner so that we can fight our battles together.

GO DEEP: Who do you fight your battles with? Do you have a small group that helps you? Write down their names and thank God that they are there to rally with you. Pray they will have the courage to come to you for help. If you don't, ask God who could join you and rally with you?

BE BOLD: Who needs to hear this? Who could you share it with?