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For you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. Psalms 61:3
The most dangerous enemies are the ones we can’t see. You know the kind. The enemies of your soul. Sometimes those enemies are people who talk behind your back and have a hidden agenda to make sure you don’t succeed.
Perhaps you made mistakes they won’t forgive. It may be that you fail to meet their expectations and they are going to do everything in their power to make sure everyone knows how much of a failure you are.
The worst enemy of all, are the bruises you have from the emotional abuse their attacks bring. In those times when the unknown enemy lurks in the shadows it’s important for us to remember who we are and whose we are!
As believers in Jesus our identity isn’t dependent on the actions or thoughts of others. As believers of Jesus we are owned by the king of the universe, Jehovah God. When I’m hurt by the actions of others, I can rest in the promise that God is my protection.
He has protected my soul in the past and I can know, beyond a shadow of a doubt that he will continue to protect me. In Him I find safety. In Him I find rest. In Him I am secure in who I am.
From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, Psalms 61:2
One of our favorite places on earth is a small campground in Northern MN. Just miles from the Canadian border it seems totally isolated from the rest of the world. To get cellphone signal requires a 20 minute drive. Groceries? 45 minutes.
The saying, ‘it’s not the end of the world but you can see if from there’ is close to reality! You are totally isolated. Totally alone.
Have you ever felt like that in prayer? Oh, to be sure you know, theologically speaking, God is right beside you. You know theologically speaking, His Holy Spirit indwells you.
But again, theologically and practicality sometimes seem miles apart. In Psalm 61:2 David feels totally alone. Whether he is miles from ‘home’ physically or spiritually is up for conjecture. But emotionally speaking? That’s another story. He’s alone.
He seems surrounded by wilderness (insert wild animals, feeling lost, feeling completely helpless). But even in this hard time he has hope. In the distance he sees a rock, an outcropping high above his issues. Better yet, he knows that rock is his fortress, his place of safety, his place of salvation.
Maybe you are at the end of your earth right now. Maybe the answers to your marriage, your finances, the fear of tomorrow are more than you can bear. Maybe those around you seem removed from helping you sort things out. Look to the rock. Seek His guidance through the wilderness. In Him is security and rest for your soul.
Lead me the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow. Psalms 5:8
Have you ever been hiking through a forest and lost sight of the trail? Some trails are well marked or even paved. Sometimes though, trails can be hard to follow. Other trails made by animals or people who have taken it upon themselves to find different way, can make your progress confusing, or even dangerous!
We live in a time when many trails cross our paths making it hard to discern which way to go. How many times have you thought (or even said) ‘if only God would just send me a text message or an email so I’d know what to do?’ It seems like around every corner there is a fork in the road.
“Do I choose this relationship or move away from it?”
“Do I take this job, or look for something different?”
“What is the best way for me to eat the way I know I should?”
“I’m facing a transition in life transition.What are next steps?”
When the path becomes difficult to discern, Jesus gives us three steps to help us keep on the path of safety and success.
First, remember that the enemy wants to keep you off course, so ASK the father for direction.
Secondly, don’t be mislead by the path that may seem the most traveled. SEEK for signs of the proper way through prayer, seeking advice from trusted, Godly friends, and reading God’s word.
Lastly, Move forward! FINDing the way is a process. Detours make take us longer to get to our destination, but we may learn valuable lessons along the way.
The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. Isaiah 58:11
Last spring we planted several trees in our yard. Unfortunately we had one of the driest summers on record. For the health and safety of our new trees, I watered them frequently to give them the best chance of survival.
One of the things I noticed after a few days was the green spots in our yard, around our new trees. While the rest of the yard was dry and brown, the area around the new trees was green because they benefitted from the water provided to the trees.
Life can be like that. The world around us can be dry with little growth, but if we put our roots deep down into the living water of Jesus we can be an oasis in the dryness of this world. A kind word, a smile, undeserved forgiveness, mercy, grace. All these can act as an oasis in the wilderness to those who are thirsty.
The deeper you grow in the living water of Jesus, the more you will be able to withstand the dryness of the wilderness and become an oasis to those who are thirsty.
He has paid a full ransom for his people. He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever. What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has! Psalms 111:9
You hear about it on the news all too often. A life is snatched from the street. Someone has been kidnapped. People kidnap others for a variety of reasons and none of them are good.
The brutal reality is that some are kidnapped and subsequently murdered after whatever evil intent the kidnapper had was satisfied. Some have been ‘captured’ and held as pets. Others have had a price put on their heads. Financial gain without concern for the victims is the attitude of these ruthless criminals.
The Psalmist reminds us that our ransom has been paid in full! In order to be ransomed I’d have to be kidnapped. Taken against my will by someone who intends to do me harm and doesn’t care about me.
Our great enemy, Satan, has kidnapped us through the sin nature each of us is born with. We are alive, shackled and in danger. A price has been put on our head. A price no one in this world has the amount to pay.
Make no mistake about it. Our kidnapper, Satan, knows his limits. He knows he has no power to take our lives, but he also knows he can make our lives miserable with broken relationships, fear, war, hate, disease, natural disasters and a variety of other painful experiences.
That’s how Jesus found us. But through his death and resurrection he paid for my release! Don’t allow the schemes of our ruthless kidnapper keep you from experiencing the freedom we have in Jesus! You don’t deserve this freedom, but he paid your ransom out of unconditional love!
