Focus

Let yourself become open to God and the knowledge that comes from the Word. Ask God for peace at this time.

Read

Psalm 18:1-19 (NRSV)

I love you, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,
my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
so I shall be saved from my enemies.

The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of perdition assailed me;
the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.

In my distress I called upon the LORD;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.

Then the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations also of the mountains trembled
and quaked, because he was angry.
Smoke went up from his nostrils,
and devouring fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him.
He bowed the heavens, and came down;
thick darkness was under his feet.
He rode on a cherub, and flew;
he came swiftly upon the wings of the wind.
He made darkness his covering around him,
his canopy thick clouds dark with water.
Out of the brightness before him
there broke through his clouds
hailstones and coals of fire.
The LORD also thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High uttered his voice.
And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them;
he flashed forth lightnings, and routed them.
Then the channels of the sea were seen,
and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O LORD,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.

He reached down from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of mighty waters.
He delivered me from my strong enemy,
and from those who hated me;
for they were too mighty for me.
They confronted me in the day of my calamity;
but the LORD was my support.
He brought me out into a broad place;
he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

Reflect

Every once in a while, in the middle of a sound sleep, I hear my daughter whisper, “Mommy.” Usually this means she has had a bad dream and can’t go back to sleep. When this happens, I suggest she try to think about good things and go back to sleep. But more than likely, she will be back within 30 minutes to tell me that idea didn’t work. So, I roll over and let her scoot into bed beside me. Pretty soon, I will feel her lean into me and she will be asleep. I am glad to be able to provide her with a sense of safety and security.

In Psalm 18, David was seeking safety and security from his enemies, which God overwhelmingly supplied. David used words such as my rock, my fortress, and my shield to describe God. He said, “[God] reached down from on high, he took me.” What wonderful imagery to describe how God takes care of us and provides us with that sense of safety and security when our lives seem to be out of control! When we are facing disasters in our own lives, how great to know that “the Lord was my support…he delivered me, because he delighted in me.”

Pray

Thank you, Lord, for being our rock and our fortress. Thank you for giving us a sense of safety and security in the midst of all our struggles. Help us to lean on you and know that we are not alone even when it feels like we are. We praise you for being our refuge and strength. Amen.

Go with God.