Trust Him

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Faith, God, Pandemic, Power, Salvation, Security, Strength, Trust

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7, ESV).

            Psalm 20 begins with a series of blessings or requests, that God would deliver those who hear from danger and distress (vv.1-5).  God can save and protect, grant mercy and bless.  Then the psalm, already optimistic, moves to confidence in God’s deliverance.  The Lord brings salvation to His chosen one (v.6); thus the people of God trust in Him, rather than in the weapons of war (v.7).  God will sustain His people (v.8), and so the psalm ends with another triumphant petition and blessing (v.9).            

God is our confidence and hope.  No power rivals His, no might can compare with His strength.  No matter how weak we are in ourselves, if we rely upon the strength of God Almighty we have nothing to fear.  In your trials, entrust yourself to your great God and Savior, and have good hope, for your heavenly Father is strong to save.

Absolute Security

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, God, Hope, Pandemic, Peace, Security, Strength

“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalm 18:2).

            In this psalm, David extols the God of deliverance, whose strength and trustworthiness is greatly praised.  He sets the tone from the first verse, declaring that God is his “strength” (v.1).  Then, in verse 2, he proceeds to describe God’s might and the safety he finds in God’s power.  He does this by piling up one descriptive image after another: God is the place of refuge, the stronghold, the Savior, the shield, the horn of deliverance.  All of these descriptors create a composite picture of the absolute security he finds in God.            

We are safe in God’s hands.  Those who call on Him find a defender who does not fail or weary.  No power in this world truly poses a danger to the people of the Almighty, who can run to God Most High for protection.  When dangers surround us, when the storms of life gather, let us take refuge in God, against whom none can contend nor compare.

A Stronghold

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, God, Hope, Pandemic, Power, Protection, Security, Strength

“The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble” (Psalm 9:9, ESV).

            In this song, David expresses his gratitude to God for deliverance from his enemies (vv.1-4).  God is mighty, and His sovereignty is displayed in universal governance over the powers of the world (v.5); He has totally triumphed over evildoers (v.6).  His sovereignty is expressed in verse 7, “the LORD sits enthroned forever”, which works out in His righteous judgment upon the earth (v.8).  In this setting, David expresses his confidence in God’s power to save and deliver those who trust in Him.            

God is mighty and merciful.  We should turn to Him in trouble, and call on Him in distress.  He cares for the vulnerable; He shelters His children.  When we take refuge in His almighty power, nothing can happen to us that is outside of His control.  It is a blessing to know that, if we belong to Jesus Christ, then no matter what we go through, we are safe in the Father’s hands.

God of Salvation

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Christianity, Devotional, God, Jesus Christ, Peace, Persecution, Power, Redemption, Salvation, Security, Strength

“Salvation belongs to the LORD; your blessing be on your people!” (Psalm 3:8, ESV).

            David has seen God’s deliverance, and he is confident that he will see it again.  God has sustained him (v.5), and so he takes courage, even against overwhelming odds (v.6).  This final statement encapsulates the theme of the psalm: “Salvation belongs to the LORD”, God is able to save.

            God is able to save.  We never need to fear, because in any and every situation, God is strong to deliver His people, to lift them up in His way and His time.  Those who belong to Christ may rest in His strength, and in this word of peace; we are in His hands, no matter what.  “Salvation belongs to the LORD”.

Again–Chaos, Control, or Christ

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America, Christ, Christianity, Cultural Engagement, Culture, Culture War, Jesus Christ, Politics, Race, Secularism, Security, Society

The many grim headlines that have met us in recent days point to a nation caught in the tug-of-war between chaos and control, and remind us that we are in this dilemma because we, as a culture, have rejected the Lordship of Christ. We encounter grievous injustice, and try to deal with it with all the resources of pagan or secular worldviews; the results are what we see unfolding.

There can be no doubt that self-consciously Christian societies have often failed to live up to their own principles. But what should be noticed is that these failures were a contradiction of their principles, not an accordance with them. That means that such a society would have within itself the resources to address its failures with repentance and reconciliation. There is a divine standard of justice, pure and glorious, to which all men stand accountable; there is an identifiable spiritual root to all injustice, sin in the human heart; there is a means of challenging wickedness with the gospel of Jesus Christ, of calling sinners to repentance and of seeing change, reconciliation, healing, and love that transcends boundaries.

But a secular or pagan society–and are these different things, or only different names?–does not contain within itself the resources to address injustice. That is why the efforts to address it turn towards chaos or control. The way of Christ has been excluded from the start, in pursuit of freedom from God. But freedom from the Righteous One will never mean righteousness, nor true freedom. A society that rejects the God who is the divine standard of justice cannot be expected to arrive at justice in its social dimensions.

The solution to our situation is neither revolution nor authoritarianism. It is conversion. The price of a just and peacefully society is repentance. Repentance of what? Many things. But, in the first place, of our secularism. If we will not have Christ, it is control or chaos. If we do not want chaos or control, we must turn to Christ.

Easter, Night

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Comfort, Easter, Father, God, Holy Week, Praise, Prayer, Security, Strength

Be near to us, blessed Father, through the hours of night. We live in the glory of the resurrection life; but we walk in the night of the world, still awaiting the fulness of redemption. Be near, to guard and guide our steps, and bring us safely into the eternal light of your consummated kingdom. Your victory is certain and your throne unshakable. Be glorified in the people you have won for yourself, God Most High—Amen.

Holy Saturday, Evening

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Christianity, Comfort, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Easter, Faith, God, Holy Saturday, Holy Week, Hope, Pandemic, Power, Prayer, Security, Strength, Trust

God Almighty, you are our hope and trust. In seasons of waiting, in days of darkness, you remain our Rock unshakable. No power can contest you, no subtlety outwit you, no evil overwhelm you. Have mercy on our weakness, and point us always to your strength. Teach us to trust you, for you are supremely trustworthy, and to call on you, for you are strong to save. Shelter us, Mighty God—Amen.

Security

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Bible, Christianity, Faith, God, Jesus Christ, Life, Prayer, Providence, Scripture, Security

“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge.  I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed” (Psalm 57:1, NIV).

God is a refuge and a fortress for those who seek Him.

Part of the life of faith is learning to turn to God with our troubles.  This may seem like vanity, that we should think our little lives are of concern to the God of all the universe; but, actually, it is an act of faith.  God adopts as His children those who come to Christ in faith, and He calls them to bring their needs to Him in faith.  In prayer, we submit our lives to God and look to Him for deliverance.

What a privilege and a comfort it is to be able to entrust our futures to God.  But that is what the life of faith is all about.  Faith calls us to go against the world and trust God; faith calls us to surrender our hopes for prosperity in this life, and instead look to the future that God has promised.  And faith calls us to turn to God in each and every situation and expect deliverance from Him, in His time, according to His wisdom.

So we take refuge beneath the wings of the Almighty.  What, then, should we fear?

God is our security.

Shelter Me

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Jesus Christ, Peace, Prayer, Security, Wisdom

Jesus Christ, dawn of all hope, be my guiding star through the hours of night. You promise rest to those who come to you, an easy yoke and a light burden; let me rest in you, and cast my burdens before you. Eternal Wisdom, make me wise through devotion to you, and let my meditations turn upon your love and righteousness. Jesus, shelter me tonight.

The Highest to the Lowly

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Advent, Christmas, Incarnation, Jesus Christ, Prayer, Security

God my shield, guard me in the night as you have guarded me in the day. You are invincible, and I am safe with you. Protect me even from temptations that would strike at my faith and cause me to grieve your heart. You sent your Son to bring us safely to yourself. He came among the lowly; draw near this lowly one. I rest myself in you through the hours of the night, awaiting your return in unassailable light—Amen.