God Is Our Fortress

Psalm 71:1-11 KJV

In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.

Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.

By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.

I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.

Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.

Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,

Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.

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The Lord has been with us and will continue with us to protect us from those who would come up against us. They may think that God is not with us and attack us mercilessly but we have every confidence that he is. He is our refuge and our fortress. In him alone do we trust. In him alone do we find peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

He Will Help

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

(Psalm 121:1-2 KJV)

Since retiring this spring, I have had a lot more opportunity to pray. In fact, I find that I've had a tremendous amount of need to go before the Lord and ask for help.  This retirement stuff seems pretty fruitless. I feel restless and at times pretty useless. I spend a lot of time asking the Lord to help me to know what it is that He would have me do. It has only been a few months so I continue to wait patiently for the Lord to open the doors and show me the way in which He would have me go to serve Him. 

This is definitely not the first time I've waited for Him to let me know what He would have me do; how He would have me serve. If you've been wondering, lift up your eyes and pray and with patience wait for it. Your help, our help, comes from the Lord. Sometimes, we have to wait awhile for answers. But, no matter what is causing you frustrations and confusion, He will answer all who earnestly ask for help; for direction.

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)

In Sheer Silence

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

                                                                             (1 Kings 19:11-13 KJV)

What indeed was Elijah doing at Mount Horeb? Was he merely running from Jezebel? Was he frustrated, confused or tired and needed to leave behind his call as a prophet for awhile? After all, all that he had done didn't seem to have any kind of lasting effect on the people. Or, was he simply in need of direction; maybe just a single word, from the Lord? 

We all need direction. We all need to hear from the Lord. We may know that we need it and even want it. But, take a lesson from Elijah. You're not likely to hear His voice in chaos. It may be there; but, you're probably not going to hear it in the deafening roar of noise. You will be too distracted to listen. You are more likely to hear it as a whisper when you take the time to be still and listen for it. Be still, slow down, and listen for it.

You are more likely to hear it as you worship in the sanctuary when the only thing that you hear is the reading of the word or the preaching of the sermon when no one or nothing else is making a racket. You are more likely to hear it as you are quietly contemplating your morning devotions. 

Shut off the television. Shut off the music. Look away from your social media for a bit. Meditate on the word and listen so that you might hear the slightest whisper of the Lord. In the midst of sheer silence you just might hear the words you need to give you the direction that you desire that will remove your frustration and confusion. It is the word of God that will refresh your soul and bring joy once again to your heart and mind.

God's Peace - Pr. J