I found Psalm 85 to be a short, refreshing read this afternoon.

“Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease” (4).

I was captivated by the plea to be turned, presumably away from the ways that displease God.

For Him to turn me, I have to yield to His control.

I do.

“Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?” (6).

I believe God’s answer is a vigorous, happy “Yes!”

For Him to revive me, I have to admit my need and submit to His work.

I do.

“Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps” (13).

I definitely want Him to set me in His steps.

Set, in the sense of being placed there.

And set, in the sense of being firmly established there.

Doing right. Thinking right. Acting right. Talking right. Choosing right.

All those make a lot of sense to me, especially when I read a verse like this one:

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).

Why turn away (foolishly, I might add) from such a promise?

When life is cold and dark and practically lifeless, a sun is a wonderful thing to have.

When all manner of arrows, darts, lances, and swords are flying about, a shield is indispensable.

And when God Himself is that sun and that shield — well, why be so foolish as to not walk in the right way?!

That’s how I’ll live . . . by the grace He promises in this very verse.