Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress (Psalm 71:3).
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ love and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand.
All other ground is sinking sand.
All other ground is sinking sand.
Yep. Stole that one. But hey, why reinvent the wheel?
Or the Rock?
It’s Wednesday, Beloved. Hold on tight.
In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame (Psalm 71:1).
Some days he calls me to stand firm, armor gleaming and sword sharp, and do battle in his name.
Some days he calls me to hide myself in him, to pull his protection over me like a child hiding under the blankets, and let him do all the fighting.
Why the difference? I don’t know for sure.
I do know that if I stood tall all the time, I would probably start thinking that I was doing it on my own.
I’m foolish that way.
So, today I am reminded that there are things out there, both physical and spiritual, that are too big, too strong, too much for me.
But not for the One who loves me. Not for the One who rescues me.
Beloved, you can’t be strong every day.
And that’s OK. He doesn’t call you to be strong every day.
He just calls you to be his every day.
Happy Tuesday, Beloved.
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge… (Psalm 91:4a).
I’m not really what you might call a “bird person.” Sure, some of them are pretty and some of them make music and some of them are quite tasty, but in general they eat things from my garden that I had planned to eat, leave undesired presents on my car, and wake me up on the rare day that I could have slept in.
Still, there’s something about this image.
You’ve seen it on nature shows, the shot of a Mama bird spreading her wings out over her babies to hide them and guard them. The message is, “If you want these little ones, you’ll have to come through me!” Or what about the penguins? You see the footage of Daddy Penguin with his baby sitting right on his feet, Dad’s wings protecting the chick. I kind of like that image of the Father. He holds us on his lap (penguins don’t have laps, per se, but they do the best they can) with his arms around us, keeping us safe as we take in this world of his.
Beloved, you are worth more than many penguins.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:2)
My refuge.
My fortress.
My place of safety and strength, with strong walls to protect me from the world.
Face it, Beloved. We all need a place to which we can retreat. When our armor is dented and our sword arm is weary, we need to pull back and regroup, recharge, refresh. God gives us that place; better yet, God is that place. His love surrounds us like an unassailable wall, keeping us protected.
Keeping us safe.
You are safe, Beloved. Rest in that today.