Tag: fortress

LORD will be a light to me

“This I know, that God is for me.”

Psalms 118:6  The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

Psalms 27:1-3   The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?LORD will be a light to me; of whom shall I be afraid?  When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.  Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.

Psalms 46:1   God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psalms 46:11     The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Psalms 56:4    In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

Psalms 146:5     Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,

Micah 7:8-10     Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me.  I will bear the indignation of the LORD because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication.

Romans 8:31    What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Hebrews 13:6    So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Darkness to light. When we experience darkness and there is no light for us to see, we are concerned about what we might walk into and what might be in front of us.  Are we going to walk into a wall or off of a cliff?  Life’s trials can give us the same concern, fear, and worry as being in darkness.  We don’t see what is around us or ahead of us.

I thank God for His word of encouragement.  “When I sit in darkness, He will be a light to me.” “He is my helper.” “He will bring me out to the light.” “God is our fortress.”  “God is very present help in trouble.” “LORD will be a light to me.” “God is for me.”

And not lose heart

“Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

Psalms 116:1  I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.  Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

Psalms 18:1-6     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.

Psalms 31:22-23     I had said in my alarm, “I am cut off from your sight.” But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help.  Love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.

Psalms 34:3-4    Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!  I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Genesis 35:2    So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments.

Psalms 55:16-17     But I call to God, and the LORD will save me.  Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.

Psalms 145:18-19    The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.  He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.

Luke 18:1    And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

Philippians 4:6     do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Satan is very crafty and uses any means possible to place doubts, fears, and anxious thoughts into our mind.  He never tells the truth and will try to convince us that we are without hope, worthless, that God does not care, that God does not hear our prayer, and that waiting for God is a waste of time.  He tries to make us doubt God’s love, promises, sovereignty, power, and faithfulness.

Life has a way of not going according to OUR plan(s).  We have disappointments, heartaches, sadness, loss, and feeling like we have been forgotten.  We are not immune to these thoughts and feelings.  However we can face them with truth.  God is all powerful, steadfast in His love for us, promised to be our rock, refuge, fortress, strength, courage, hope, comfort and heavenly Father.  Not one single trial, trouble, or moment of loss changes these.  Satan’s lies do not change the love God has for those who are called by His name.

When the Israelites had left the Egyptians and were at the shore of the Red Sea.  They turned around and were looking at the full force of the Egyptian army coming toward them with intent of killing them.  God told them to face the sea and not look back.  He showed them looking back turns to fear and doubt (fertile ground for Satan’s attacks)- looking ahead with hope and trust they will see the hand of God, His mighty power, and His faith sustaining and unfailing steadfast love.

Look ahead clinging to, relying on and trusting in God who is able to do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine.

He is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

“You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.”

“I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Psalms 115:12  The LORD has remembered us; he will bless us;

Psa 115:13  he will bless those who fear the LORD, both the small and the great.

Psalms 33:18    Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,

Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.

Proverbs 30:5     Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Psalms 18:30    This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

James 3:17     But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Psalms 84:11     For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

God’s ways are not our ways.  His thoughts are not our thoughts.  His grace, mercy, and love are the same as ours.  His awesome power and might can not be compared to anything or anyone.  His truth and justice are absolute.  There is none like Him.

Have you heard people talk about a famous person the had opportunity to meet by chance.  They tell the story over and over again when they have opportunity.  Most, if not all of us, at some point have had opportunity and do talk about it.

When I think about God, creator, author of all there is, who spoke things into being, who has no equal in heaven or earth, I wonder what is man that He is mindful of them, cares for them, loves them, provides for them, protects them, encourages them, speaks to them, gives them place of refuge, gives them strength, gives them hope, peace, and love, gives them wisdom, and forgives them.

No matter what we are facing “GOD does not change”.  No matter how big the challenge “God is more powerful”. No matter how dark it seems “the Light of His word” get’s through.  No matter how uncertain things seem “He is in control”.  There is not limit to God and His love for those who fear, trust, and hope in Him.

5 – The mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around

Psalms 91:11  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.

Psalms 34:7     The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Psalms 71:3     Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

2 Kings 6:16-17     So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city. When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Hebrews 1:14     Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation

Proverbs 3:6     In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Isaiah 31:1     Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD!

It takes time to learn that but when we are our weakest or in our lowest is when God is our all in all.  Likewise when we are our strongest and highest is when God is but a second thought.  What would our lives be like if He was all in all at all times?  What does it take to keep God all in all at all times?  Think about a weak or low time – how much of your day was occupied seeking, relying on, and clinging to God?  Now compare this to a time when you not low or weak – how much of your day was occupied seeking, relying on and clinging to God?  Our heart, mind and soul are in a battle with our sinful nature and humbly serving, honoring, following, and obeying God.  Praise God for His steadfast love that does not cast us aside like we do to Him.  Make commitment to desire and seek Him.

My shelter

Psalms 91:1  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.  A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.  You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.  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.”

 

Thoughts by Charles H. Spurgeon:

The blessings here promised are not for all believers, but for those who live in close fellowship with God. Every child of God looks towards the inner sanctuary and the mercyseat, yet all do not dwell in the most holy place; they run to it at times, and enjoy occasional approaches, but they do not habitually reside in the mysterious presence. Those who through rich grace obtain unusual and continuous communion with God, so as to abide in Christ and Christ in them, become possessors of rare and special benefits, which are missed by those who follow afar off, and grieve the Holy Spirit of God. Into the secret place those only come who know the love of God in Christ Jesus, and those only dwell there to whom to live is Christ. To them the veil is rent, the mercyseat is revealed, the covering cherubs are manifest, and the awful glory of the Most High is apparent.  Those who are the Lord’s constant guests shall find that he will never suffer any to be injured within his gates. The Omnipotent Lord will shield all those who dwell with him, they shall remain under his care as guests under the protection of their host.  his protection is constant–they abide under it, and it is all sufficient, for it is the shadow of the Almighty, whose omnipotence will surely screen them from all attack. No shelter can be imagined at all comparable to the protection of Jehovah’s own shadow. The Almighty himself is where his shadow is, and hence those who dwell in his secret place are shielded by himself. What a shade in the day of noxious heat! What a refuge in the hour of deadly storm! Communion with God is safety. The more closely we cling to our Almighty Father the more confident may we be.

Trust in the Everlasting arms of God

“I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.”

Psalms 90:1   Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.

Exodus 33:14     And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”  And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.  For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”  And the LORD said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”  Moses said, “Please show me your glory.”  And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

1 Timothy 6:11     But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

Psalms 71:3     Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

Psalms 91:9     Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge—

Deuteronomy 33:27     The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.

Ezekiel 11:16     Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: Though I removed them far off among the nations, and though I scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a while in the countries where they have gone.’

1 John 4:16     So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

There is quite a bit to think about in these scriptures. “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here”.  Knowing we are in he purpose and plan in God reveals itself in comments like this.  Placing God in position of God over our life and yielding to His purpose for His plans gives peace to our soul.  Day after day, week after to week, month after month, and year after year in His presence becomes our dwelling place refreshing our knowledge and understanding of Him. We face each day in the presence of the rock of our salvation, our refuge, our hope, our fortress…  I wonder why there are days I live in the this world and worry about things I have no control over nor can I change. This worry leads often to being defeated and without hope over the situation.  These moments seem to just pop up least expected and, then, when I should be comforted in the power, might, strength, love, purpose, plan of the creator of all there is I give over to thoughts of worry.  He is bigger than anything we face no matter how gloomy it looks.  Is He enough – No – He is much more than enough, He is greater than what I can imagine and can do infinitely more than I ask.  Give your day to Him and live in His presence and be an encouragement to those who are floundering.

The rock of my salvation

Psalms 89:26  He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’  And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.  My steadfast love I will keep for him forever, and my covenant will stand firm for him.  I will establish his offspring forever and his throne as the days of the heavens.  If his children forsake my law and do not walk according to my rules,  if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments,  then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes,  but I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness.  I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips.

Matthew 26:39     And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Luke 23:46     Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

John 11:41     So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.

John 20:17     Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Hebrews 1:5     For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”?

Psalms 18:46     The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation—

Psalms 62:2     He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.  On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

2 Samuel 22:47    “The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation,

Isaiah 50:7     But the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.  He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me.  Behold, the Lord GOD helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.

Isaiah 59:21     “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from this time forth and forevermore.”

The rock of my salvation.  We have times we seem to experience being broken and unable to see blessings, joy, peace, and hope. Life happens and is going along fine and then out of the blue it is upside down.  The rock of my salvation, my refuge, my strength, my hope, my joy, my peace, my defender, my power, my help, and my guidance are all words used by men who looked to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit in times of trouble.  These men chose to keep in the presence of God at all times.   Keeping close to God and seeking His help is easy in broken and confusing times of our life.      Shouldn’t we want to desire to be close to God at all times living to humbly serve, honor, follow and obey Him?   Holding on to God’s hand through life is so much easier than running off into things alone.  Listening to His whispers of guidance each day and staying in communion with Him will keep our heart, mind, and soul focused with hope, joy, and peace.

Bear you up

“ Summon your power, O God, the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.”

“ For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;”

“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.”

Psalms 71:1  In you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame! In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me, and save me! Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.  Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.

Proverbs 18:10    The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

Isaiah 33:16     he will dwell on the heights; his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given him; his water will be sure.

Psalms 91:1  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.”

I read a review of this Psalm and share it with you.  Let us ask for help, that we may disappoint the calculations of those who hate us, whether men or demons. It is a piteous spectacle when apparently prosperous careers” are overclouded, and age is overwhelmed in catastrophes which there is no time to overcome. But such is not God’s way with His loyal servants. His rivers do not end in swamps and marshes, but broaden and deepen till they kiss the mighty ocean.  It is good for us to keep God our rock, refuge, power and might in both good times and times of trials allowing His perfect will, purpose and plan for our lives.

Content in all things

“but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint”

“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.”

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,”

Psalms 68:28   Summon your power, O God, the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.

Psalms 68:32  O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice. Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies. Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!

Psalms 42:8     By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.

Psalms 71:3   Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

Psalms 138:8   The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Being content in the hands of God is both hard and easy.  It depends on our choice to have faith in Him, to wait on Him, to trust in Him, and to believe in Him and His purpose for our lives.  We must believe He is sovereign and in control of all there is.  And then patiently wait for His mighty and awesome timing.  Sometimes it is immediate and other times it is not.  In our culture our access is almost unlimited to anything we are seeking.  I wonder if this doesn’t play a part in our lack of seeking God and His purpose.  When problems arise we run ahead on our own without giving second thought to Him. Other times we are so blessed we even forget that these blessings come from Him.  I recently heard a man tell of great success he was having in training dogs.  He said at one point he just thought it was too easy.  Then God showed him it was not easy and gave him a time of trials in this training.   He said he was humbled by God and knows all success is at the hands of God.  If we listen, God will speak to our heart and lead us on paths where we continually see His sovereignty.  Commit to humbly serve, honor, follow and obey Him.

Delusional

Psalms 62:4  They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse.  For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.  He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.  Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.  Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God,  and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work.

Job 33:14  For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds, then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings, that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man;

2 Chronicles 33:10  The LORD spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they paid no attention.

Proverbs 1:24   Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,

Proverbs 1:29   Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,

Isaiah 6:9   And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’

Mark 8:17  And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened?  Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?

Luke 24:25   And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

John 3:19   And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

Foolish, hardened hearts, ears that do not hear, not remembering, not seeing, not perceiving, not understanding, hating knowledge, choosing to not fear God, refusing to listen, paying no attention, and putting trust in riches are all given in today’s scriptures.  They describe the heart of man and we must be mindful of the natural inclination of our heart and mind.  We are instructed to desire God with all our heart, mind, and soul.  We are instructed to love Him more than things of this world.  We are instructed to confess sin.  We are instructed to repent/turn away from sin.  We are instructed to humbly serve Him, honor Him, follow Him, listen to Him, and obey Him.  We are instructed to give generously.  We are instructed to be in unity.  We are instructed to put others first.  We are instructed to pray.  We are instructed to cling to, rely on, and trust in Him alone.  We are instructed to cherish His word and to meditate on it night and day.  We are instructed to be set apart and be an example.  We are instructed to make disciples.  We are instructed to not be angry.  We are instructed to encourage the weak, help the poor, give to the needy.  We are instructed to keep our eyes on Him.  We are instructed to listen to Him speak to our heart. We are instructed to keep our eyes focused on Him and eternity.  We are instructed to be kind.  We are instructed to not have trust in our power or our riches or the might of others.  I fear we look at these instructions as recommendations that can or can not be lived in our lives.  I fear we think more about God’s grace, love, and mercy and forget about His wrath.  I fear we don’t do what is instructed because we choose to live outside of the knowledge and understanding of them.  I fear our christian walk has been diluted to thinking that nothing more is expected of us rather than going to church on Sunday.  I fear so many are delusional, lukewarm, and living apart from what God has instructed for those who are called to Him.  For certain we need to examine our heart and mind and life in light of His word, and the instruction, promises, and warnings contained in it.  We have a choice to serve Him with our whole heart, mind, and soul.  We have a choice to honor, follow and obey Him.  We have a choice to place Him first in our life.  We have a choice to be used by Him.  Choose to commit to a humbly live serving, honoring, following, obeying Him.  Choose to read His word, meditate on it, believe it and proclaim it.