The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 84:5-12, “How blessed is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion!

6 Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a spring; the early rain also covers it with blessings.

7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them appears before God in Zion.

8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah.

9 Behold our shield, O God, and look upon the face of Your anointed.

10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

12 O LORD of hosts, how blessed is the man who trusts in You!“

Have you ever felt that you were running out of strength? Well, I sure have! Yet, in those times, I have turned to the LORD, and He has renewed my strength. In all honesty, my reception of added strength at all times has been due to His graciousness. No doubt, multiple times He has given me that “added strength,” even when what prompted the need was not directly related to His work. Strength by any measure and for any needed occasion must always be found in the LORD.

I must confess that on numerous occasions, when I was unjustly accused of things related to my ministry, in haste I responded all-too rapidly and often without waiting for the Holly Spirit’s permission or arrangement of my comments. The LORD knew my heart, and I felt no reprehension from Him for my activities. At the same time, it is easy to justify self-defense, when it is, more often than not, better to “let sleeping dogs lie.”

What confidence we should have when we hear the Word say, “Behold our shield, O God, and look upon the face of You anointed” (vs. 9). His defense of His people is always available and far greater than any defense His people could muster for themselves. Be done with such foolishness! “The LORD is (our) sun and shield…” How blessed is the one who trusts in Him alone!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

We will never know that Christ is all we need,

Until He becomes all that we have. – Corrie ten Boom