Author: astherainandsnow

“When the Lord your God brings you into the land.., and clears away many nations before you,.. then you must devote them to complete destruction. You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them. You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods… Thus shall you deal with them: you shall break down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and chop down their Asherim and burn their carved images with fire.

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery… Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations… You shall therefore be careful to do the commandment and the statutes and the rules that I command you today.” Deuteronomy 7:1a,2b-4a,5-9,11

When the Lord brings you into the land. God methodically prepares His people for what’s to come, binding certain promise with dire warning. They would surely enter, and they’d be sorely tempted. As loving Father, He outlined the reasons for His commands. Beware lest these foreigners turn your hearts, lest idols take My place. He’d chosen them, set His love on them, and as His treasured possession they were to live like the holy and redeemed people they were.

Many an idol present themselves as we take on new lands of life experience, relationships, work, and ministry. A spouse or child arrives and steals the heart’s affection. A job or hobby captivates focus and absorbs energy and attention. Any passion can become a god and turn us from the One who inspires the passion- for His glory, not our own fulfillment.

We must acknowledge our raison d’être: the Lord has made us for Himself, and His redemption by fact frees us from the stronghold of slavery to idols. We must determine to live as those so freed, and loved, and endowed with holy purpose. We are not our own. (Isaiah 43:1,4; 49:3)

The allure of worldly icons of wealth and image, beauty and adrenaline rushes, will always vie for our untrained, untamed emotions. Will we take God’s warnings to heart? What in our perception of self needs unskewing? If we are indeed His treasure, valued beyond human comprehension costing our Savior His life, why do we dawdle in the lowlands? With what idols of cool and feel good and boasting do we shamelessly flirt, as though they bring any true pleasure or honor to God?

How can we keep God’s word anew in light of all He’s done for us and the love He’s set on us? What idols will we put away forever?

Loving Father, help me honor You as worthy of all obedience and glory, for indeed You are.

“Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
    who trains my hands for war,
    and my fingers for battle;
he is my steadfast love and my fortress,
    my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield and he in whom I take refuge,
    who subdues peoples under me…

Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down!
    Touch the mountains so that they smoke!
Flash forth the lightning and scatter them;
    send out your arrows and rout them!
Stretch out your hand from on high;
    rescue me and deliver me from the many waters,
    from the hand of foreigners,
whose mouths speak lies
    and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

I will sing a new song to you, O God;
    upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you,
who gives victory to kings,
    who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword.” Psalm 144:1-2,5-10

Almighty God is master war strategist. Strong, unflappable, focused, skilled. He trains to every detail what we need in spiritual combat, and abides as our fortress and stronghold. And He fights for us! We never go alone against the foe!

How often we meet foes mental, physical, and spiritual. Daily we encounter battles against the flesh, temptation to cheat, covet, and complain. Greed, lust, shame, sloth… many are the enemies that stroll our minds and emotions and work to undo us. Yet, great is God, and greater. He sets us up to claim His promises, to go to war trusting His power to protect and vanquish. He intends that we see our self-made fortresses fail, and that He alone is Victor. (1 John 4:4)

How do we react when faced with danger? How do we respond to enemies pesky and formidable? Would we turn our attention from them to bless the LORD our Rock? Would we deliberately secure ourselves in His armor, and fight the good fight in His name, skill, and strength? What past act of help or deliverance will we thank Him for and let fuel this day’s confidence? (Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Timothy 4:7)

Blessing the Lord reminds us of how He acts on behalf of His children and noble purposes. God’s steadfast love holds us, and nothing can separate us from that love. His power guards us from every attempted snatch of the enemy’s hand, and subdues those who are against us. Who He is and all He does for His people beckons us to trust and delight in Him. (John 10:280-29; Romans 8:31-39)

“We rest on thee, our Shield and our Defender!
We go not forth alone against the foe;
strong in thy strength, safe in thy keeping tender,
we rest on thee, and in thy name we go.

Yea, in thy name, O Captain of salvation!
In thy dear name, all other names above:
Jesus our righteousness, our sure foundation,
our Prince of glory and our King of love.

We go in faith, our own great weakness feeling,
and needing more each day thy grace to know:
yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing,
‘We rest on thee, and in thy name we go.’

We rest on thee, our Shield and our Defender!
Thine is the battle, thine shall be the praise;
when passing through the gates of pearly splendor,
victors, we rest with thee, through endless days.” ~Edith G. Cherry (1895)

Lord, help me fight in Your strength and Name, to Your victory.

“There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;  and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;  and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.  To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good…  All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body…

“But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be?  As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’  On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,  which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,  that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-7,11-13a,18-27

Creative in design, purposeful in plan and execution, the Creator made and inspired varieties of gifts, desires, abilities, and activities. Just as His creation was completed as good, good, and very good, so His exquisite fashioning of His crowning jewel, mankind, was crafted to bring very good to His people. Mutual working, honor, and care would bring the best into and out of His children for His kingdom’s sake. (Genesis 1:31)

Much is taught in current culture about fulfilling our destiny and desires, being our best selves, doing whatever we set our minds to do, living our best life now. The world’s mantra is ‘me,’ the driving thrust self-satisfaction. But the ways of the Lord are subversive to the world’s finest tenets. The more excellent way of living is to exercise our God-given, Spirit-empowered gifts for the good and care of His Body, the church. ‘Fulfillment’ and ‘best’ are not motivations, but glorious, God-given results as we commit our gifts, service, and activities to Jesus.

Life geared to personal pursuits and pleasure is oriented completely differently from Body living led and fueled by the Spirit. Our priorities of how we spend attention, affection, and time reveal for whom we care the most. How much do we care about God’s plans? How well are we caring for His people, building up strengths, encouraging opportunities to exercise talent and particular wisdom, working together to expand God’s kingdom? What are we investing in that supports and energizes the Body to spiritual growth and fruitfulness? (Ephesians 4:12-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Lord, help me live out and encourage Your gifts with care, zeal, and grace, so Your purposes are realized and Your glory is magnified.

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?  And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money…

“You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts.'” Luke 16:10-13,15a

Being faithful in a very little requires understanding of faithfulness (the quality of being loyal and steadfast; fidelity, constancy, devotion), and the Master who has entrusted us with the very little (What do you have that you did not receive?.. All things come from you, O Lord). Being faithful is the deliberate engaging between the two. The Almighty owns all things, tangible and intangible. He has loaned us everything we manage, no matter the size or scope. Therefore, we owe it to Him to be a good steward of what He’s entrusted to us and bring Him the due He deserves. (1 Chronicles 29:11-14; Psalm 24:1; 1 Corinthians 4:7; James 1:17)

To be a good steward of the Master, we must know Him, and our proper relationship to Him. Stewardship gets messed up when we think we own everything and twist its definition to usage, which easily distorts into misuse, or indulgence, or waste. When we think ourselves chief, we tend to things toward our own ends, but when we serve the Lord over self, our motive is elevated and we take care of what is His in honor of Him. Which is it for us?

Once we’ve mastered our subservient position before the Lord of all the earth, we need to master our handling of His gifts. How do we view opportunities the Lord gives us to serve and honor Him? They are not ours to squander in selfishness, but His to seize with gratitude. With material goods, how well do we supervise, maintain, and put to constructive use what He’s given us? How attune are we to the needs of others, and how readily do we share? Are we generous with resources, means, and talents, or stingy? (Proverbs 19:17)

How about the people the Lord has brought into our lives? Are we valuing friendship by care, concern, and lavish encouragement to help them flourish? How vigilantly do we guard confidences, and reputations? Are we more prone to gossip that is detrimental to other image-bearers, or to listening keenly, speaking truth, and anointing others with blessing? How well do we care for those younger in the faith, or weak, or hungry? (1 Thessalonians 5:12-14)

What needs to change in our attitude, priorities, and daily actions for the Lord to say, Well done, good and faithful servant? (Matthew 25:21)

My Master, help me treat every bit You entrust as great and valuable and worthy of most careful guarding and investment, so You name and grace are magnified.

“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.'” Revelation 3:14-19

“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

How skewed can be the perceptions of man! I am adequate. I have enough. I made it happen. I can make it happen. When we’re steeped in self, as our culture would keep us, life revolves around me. And since everything begins and ends with me- my feelings, my wants, my determination- I can surreptitiously go about days needing nothing from anyone else, especially God. The bent of conceit can also swing to being consumed with self-loathing and sorry. The danger is in neglecting the Almighty altogether, the result is an empty, meaningless life.

The Lord who made us for rich relationship with Himself intends to undo our selfishness as well as our deprecation. If we don’t humble ourselves He will see to it surely and mercifully. Paul needed drastic measure, and we may too. Only God can give sober, proper perspective, but grants it as we seek His eyes and mind. He will correct, for His sake in us, every wrong assessment, be it grave or gauche, boasting or belittling. (Romans 12:3; James 1:5)

How is my mind most often occupied? Where am I thinking too highly of myself? Too little? Too much? What would change if I began each day considering the Amen, the Faithful and True, and thinking much of Him? Certainly it would adjust mental priorities and set the spirit aright. Seeing myself, others, and the Lord’s intentions through the lens of His eternal goodness and grace transforms a warped mindset into a heavenly one.

Where have I grown lukewarm, numb to the influence of my Lord? What self-sufficiency and selfish preoccupation will I bring to God’s throne for dethroning?

Father, keep me needing, trusting, and glorifying You alone.

“He makes peace in your borders;
    he fills you with the finest of the wheat.
He sends out his command to the earth;
    his word runs swiftly.
He gives snow like wool;
    he scatters frost like ashes.
He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs;
    who can stand before his cold?
He sends out his word, and melts them;
    he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.
He declares his word to Jacob,
    his statutes and rules to Israel.
He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
    they do not know his rules.
Praise the Lord!” Psalm 147:14-20

Almighty God spoke the world into being, by His word sustains it, and one day will destroy its ancient foe with His breath. His word named the stars and stirs the storms and speaks love over His people. It is exact, and effectual. As it goes, it accomplishes its every intent and purpose determined by God. (Psalm 33:8-9; 147:4; Isaiah 46:10; 55:10-11; Zephaniah 3:17; Colossians 1:17; 2 Thessalonians 2:8)

How well acquainted am I with God’s infallible word? How often and regularly do I immerse myself in the treasure trove it is, seeking out wisdom, digging for insight, opening myself for conviction, submitting to correction? God’s word running swiftly in and throughout my inner being will pierce, refine, and effect an immeasurable difference in my perspective and private attitudes, my demeanor and interactions with others. (Proverbs 2:1-6; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12)

There is a sense of my needing to allow His word’s swift running in me, and to yield to its activity and persuasion. In another sense, I must adjust my gait and tempo to its speed and purpose as I go about my day. Dare not I go against the flow, or speed ahead, or lag behind.

The effect of my use of God’s word has much to do with my welcome receipt of it within. Do I pick and choose the parts I like, or allow it to constantly inform and inspire? When God’s word has me, I can carry it on. Its work and power in me become His kingdom work and power in my home, community, and world.

Will I use words to deceive or enlighten? To hide or disclose? To create or calm storms? To tear down or upbuild? What part will I play in causing God’s word to run swiftly in this land and all lands on earth, to accomplish His will as it is in heaven?

“Have thine own way, Lord! 
Have thine own way! 
Search me and try me, 
Savior today! 
Wash me just now, Lord, 
wash me just now, 
as in thy presence 
humbly I bow. 

Have thine own way, Lord! 
Have thine own way! 
Hold o’er my being 
absolute sway. 
Fill with thy Spirit 
till all shall see 
Christ only, always, 
living in me!” ~Adelaide Pollard (1906)

Lord, run Your word swiftly and efficiently in my life to bring Holy Spirit fire and sanctification, purified desire and righteous ambition. Imprint Your word in my heart and mind to have sway in all I think, do, and say. (Matthew 6:10; Hebrews 8:10)

“When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions, having a very great retinue and camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones… She told him all that was on her mind. And Solomon answered all her questions. There was nothing hidden from Solomon that he could not explain to her. And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, and their clothing, his cupbearers, and their clothing, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her.

“And she said to the king, ‘The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, half the greatness of your wisdom was not told me; you surpass the report that I heard.'” 2 Chronicles 9:1-6

“O Lord, I have heard the report of you,
    and your work, O Lord, do I fear.
In the midst of the years revive it;
    in the midst of the years make it known.” Habakuk 3:2

“The woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, ‘Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?’ They went out of the town and were coming to him…

“Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony… So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word.  They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.’” John 4:28-30,39-42

A foreign royal, a prophet, a woman outcast. Seeking or sought out, each considered the words and works of the King and came to discover who He claimed to be. They pursued with effort, lingered in time, and probed with questions until the point of belief, an inextricable bloom of grace and faith.

Hearing about should never replace, but compel, firsthand investigation. When we consider the Lord Jesus, when we peruse His treasures of order, limitless bounty, wisdom, splendor, and providence, we must respond. We can deem Him disingenuous because we cannot reconcile His goodness with the evil in the world, or we can explore why things are not how they were intended to be, and that He alone has made a way through to triumph. We hold Him at bay, or we marvel in belief.

Once we’re hushed before His divinity and trust Him, we will tell. Salvation begets proclamation. Knowing Him, we want to make Him known!

Are we taking time to listen and learn from our Lord? How are we applying what He says and shows? What in our attitudes and actions exhibits His life-transforming power? Whom are we telling so they can have new life too? Passing on truth reinforces our faith and spurs growth in others. (Revelation 1:2-3)

Lord, incline me to know You better and to proclaim Your excellencies with zeal and joy.

“Contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed.., ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ...

“These people, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones… Woe to them! For they… are shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.

“It was also about these that Enoch… prophesied, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.’ These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.

“But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, ‘In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.’ It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt;  save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Jude 3-4,8,11-19

In between contend for the faith and keep yourselves in the love of God is a lot of mess. Godless, perverted, sensual sneaks. Defiled, rebellious blasphemers. Selfish, unmoored, fruitless, vacuous wanderers. Dark, ruthless grumblers. Boasters. All the ungodly with all their deeds of ungodliness. And we live in the midst, surrounded by all this stain and stumbling. How are we to live?

We are to keep ourselves in the world but not of it, in the love of God while not in the fray. But often we gripe and grouse and castigate these we disdain without realizing we’re imitating their malice and subterfuge. Like idol-makers who become like the senseless little gods they craft, we can arrogantly make a religion out of enlightenment and morph into priests of conscience. We set standards as dictators, rule as kings, and judge as judges, blind to our common guilt. (Psalm 115:4-8; 135:18; John 17:15-16)

Are we contending for and build ourselves up in a particular practice or platform, or the faith? Jesus must be primary, His gospel supreme, and God’s love the method. How can these direct and transform our penchant to scoff at scoffers and hate the haters? How will we hone discernment by God’s word, and seek ways to love and show mercy to the unlovable? God is able to keep us from stumbling and lead us!

Father, fill me with love and mercy so in the midst of the world, I glorify You.

“Sing aloud to God our strength;
    shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
Raise a song; sound the tambourine,
    the sweet lyre with the harp.
Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
    at the full moon, on our feast day…
‘I relieved your shoulder of the burden;
    your hands were freed from the basket.
In distress you called, and I delivered you;
    I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
    I tested you at the waters of Meribah. 
Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!
    O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
There shall be no strange god among you;
    you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
I am the Lord your God,
    who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
    Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

‘But my people did not listen to my voice;
    Israel would not submit to me.
So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
    to follow their own counsels.
Oh, that my people would listen to me,
    that Israel would walk in my ways!'” Psalm 81:1-3,6-13

“You shall have no other gods before me.”

“Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments!” Deuteronomy 5:7,29

Sing aloud! Rejoice! The Lord has done great and amazing things!.. How dare He bring testing after blessing! But in the same love that motivates His graces and favor, God will not let His children flirt with strange gods or forget Him in the secret place. How natural it is in the flesh to settle for the comfy cushy of deliverance and forget the one true God who did the delivering. Relishing relief must never take the place of dependence, nor satisfaction of need the place of praise. God tests us as proof that He loves us, and is jealous for our attentive and whole-hearted devotion in return. (Genesis 22:1-2,15-17; Exodus 16:4; Deuteronomy 8:2; Job 1:6-12)

Too often the happy heart tunes out the voice of God. Strained under trials we cry out, but lifted we go our merry way. Bound by angst and evil and pain we groan, yet freed we forget. Needy we desperately plead, yet helped we flee thankless. And we chafe when distress returns, having settled into I’m finally where I deserve to be. How dare another burden! (Luke 17:12-18)

We must remember what it cost our Lord to redeem us. He bore our burden to relieve us, and was crucified so we could be delivered. He has no guile and is never capricious. He tests us to garner attention away from ease, affections from new little gods, so we revere only Him. He tests us to keep us singing and thanking Him as Savior and Giver of all good gifts. He tests desiring that we pass, and intently listen, keep open wide for Him to fill, and endeavor to walk with in His ways. (John 3:27; 1 Corinthians 4:7; James 1:17; 1 Peter 1:18-19)

Do we take salvation and ongoing heavenly communion for granted? How do we respond to God’s loving tests of our devotion? Do we chafe at conviction that redirects and corrects, or respond to His warnings with renewed adoration? Ongoing thankfulness and appreciation are supreme attitude adjusters that honor Him.

Lord, keep my heart always praising, fearing, loving, and obeying You as the only One worthy.

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.’

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
    and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his pinions,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
    nor the destruction that wastes at noonday…

Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
    the Most High, who is my refuge—
no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
    no plague come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder;
    the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

‘Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
    I will protect him, because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble;
    I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.’” Psalm 91:1-6,9-16

Shelters protect, and shadows are on the safe side of light. The Lord stands tall and hovers close in this song, guarding not against, but within, the troubles. He goes before, surrounds, delivers. He bears up, protects, and rescues. The bigness of God is fixed against every foe, and His shadow covers all who take refuge in Him. Any taunting terror, any invading pestilence of body or soul, any pesky doubts or suffocating darkness, is small against the fortress that is God Almighty.

We face daily enemies of temptation, irritation, or despair, yet the Lord sees and is concerned with all our ways. We fear the unknown, or the threats and prognoses we do know, yet the Lord is trustworthy. He commands His angels to guard mind and emotion. They bear us up to keep us from falling. The promises of protection are for all who abide in the Lord.

Where do we run for shelter? We might say God’s our chap, skirt around His word, and skim by in wishful prayer, but never take entry into His riven side and dwell in His salvation. What keeps us resisting, fretting, trying our own defenses? When will we choose the incomparable comfort, security, and hope of putting our trust in God?

“A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God’s own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.” ~Martin Luther (1529)

Most High, help me hold fast to you in love and live under Your shadow so I can know better and make known Your mighty name.