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Devotional for Sunday, November 27, 2016
“His Countenance Upon Us”
by Dona Hake
Numbers 6:24-26
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
and give you peace.”
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
and give you peace.”
One’s countenance is his or her appearance, and it is especially the look or expression of the face. I love this scripture because is shows us that we are able to shine the light and love of the Lord from our countenance as we permit Him to do so. Oh that we would desire that His countenance would shine and be upon us!! Have you ever met someone and you just know that they love the Lord, and it is because their countenance is a give away? Their countenance if full of His Light, Life and Love. I always think of that song as a little girl that we would sing in Sunday school, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…!” As we spend time with the Lord, follow His Word, we will begin to emanate His peace and joy, and all that He is.
Our countenance reveals so much about us. If someone knows us very well, they are able to discern quickly if something is wrong just by the look on our face, and the expressions that are coming from within us. David understood that it was his soul that was disquieted and cast down, and he understood that as he waited upon God that He would bring a saving health to his countenance as his soul experienced God’s restoration. I love this Psalm so much, and since I have meditated on this one so much, there are times I find myself addressing my soul, and calling it to be quiet before God that He is able to restore me.
Psalm 42:11 Jubilee Bible 2000
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Wait thou for God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the saving health of my countenance and my God.”
When one has good health in their body and mind they are experiencing soundness and vigor, and freedom from disease or ailment. When someone loses hope they may also begin to fear their future and feel as if they are a failure. It is when we lose hope that our enemy, the devil can begin to try to speak lies to us that would cause a spirit of timidity within us. Let us keep our mind renewed that our God has given us a sound mind, and not a spirit of fear. This is a real part of maintaining a healthy countenance before God and man.
2 Timothy 1:7 (AMP)
” For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.”
Today I pray that you receive this blessing from the book of Numbers. May He bless and keep you. Look to Him and gaze on His radiant face, and receive His grace for your day and your life. As you do so you will find your inward man lifted up as His countenance rests upon you with His great peace!