Psalms 3: The Lifter of My Head

Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.  
Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.  
But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.   I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.   I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.  
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.  
Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.  
Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. - Ps 3:1-8 NIV

This may well be the cry of God's people today.  I know it is my cry many times.  'Many are they that rise up against me!'  It's not just those who openly oppose the gospel and all it stands for.  Many of us could fight that off if that were the only case.  But, it's the internal warring that gets me down.  It's all of the ways that I have compromised.  It's all of the ways I have been trapped in idolizing what the world idolizes: my independence, my security, my prosperity.

I am so afraid sometimes, that I am being overcome by the world, of succumbing to its lure, of being caught in the lies until there is no way back to the Father.  But, David says, we are not to have those fears.  That God hears us, that he sustains us, that he smites our enemies, that he saves. He is not just interested in saving us, but he plants our feet on solid ground, he says to us, you don't need to fear that your actions are inadequate.  He reaches out and lifts our downcast face up.  He tells us we are his children.  We have nothing to fear and nothing to be ashamed of.  It's not my pride, but his glory that is the lifter of my head.