Tuesday 1 April, 2014

1 Lord, I have gone to you for safety. Let me never be put to shame. 2 You do what is right. Save me and help me. Pay attention to me and save me. 3 Be my rock of safety that I can always go to. Give the command to save me. You are my rock and my fort. 4 My God, save me from the power of sinners. Save me from the hands of those who are mean and evil. 5 You are the King and the Lord. You have always been my hope. I have trusted in you ever since I was young. 6 From the time I was born I have depended on you. You brought me out of my mother’s body. I will praise you forever. 7 To many people I am an example of how much you care. You are strong. You are my place of safety. 8 My mouth is filled with praise for you. All day long I will talk about your glory. 9 Don’t push me away when I’m old. Don’t desert me when my strength is gone. 10 My enemies speak against me. Those who want to kill me get together and make evil plans. 11 They say, “God has deserted him. Go after him and grab him. No one will save him.” 12 God, don’t stay so far away from me. My God, come quickly and help me. 13 May those who bring charges against me die in shame. May those who want to harm me be covered with shame and dishonor. 14 But I will always have hope. I will praise you more and more. 15 I will say that what you have done is right. All day long I will talk about how you have saved your people. It is more than I can understand. 16 Lord and King, I will come and announce your mighty acts. I will announce that you alone do what is right. 17 God, ever since I was young you have taught me about what you have done. To this very day I tell about your wonderful acts. 18 God, don’t leave me even when I’m old and have gray hair. Let me live to tell my children about your power. Let me tell all of them about your mighty acts. 19 God, your saving acts reach to the skies. You have done great things. God, who is like you? 20 You have sent many bitter troubles my way. But you will give me new life. Even if I’m almost in the grave, you will bring me back. 21 You will honor me more and more. You will comfort me once again. 22 My God, I will use the harp to praise you because you are always faithful. Holy One of Israel, I will use the lyre to sing praise to you. 23 My lips will shout with joy when I sing praise to you. You have saved me. 24 All day long my tongue will say that you have done what is right. Those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame. They have not been honored.

The strategy of the devil says we are foolish to trust God, and that God will not be faithful when we are old or weak – when we need Him the most.

This Psalm declares that God is someone I can take refuge in. That He is a place of safety and protection.

When I am accused, scorned, and ridiculed, I need to take refuge in God, and go straight to His word. His promises give peace and protection. God’s word will renew and reaffirm His truths, and will overturn the enemies lies. It will silence the voices of condemnation, and will reassure me that I am forgiven when I sin. God is a fortress; He is solid and dependable through all time and every circumstance. When I am most vulnerable, God strengthens me, and the enemy cannot penetrate Gods protection.

My confidence is that I can turn to God in all circumstances and times. My hope in Jesus is not just vague wishful thinking; it is knowing I have experienced God’s hand of protection and provision throughout my life.

God is my rock of refuge, my hope, my confidence. He will never fail or disappoint those who trust in him.  He is able to restore my life and comfort me when trouble comes.  The hope he gives me in His word says He is the only one worthy of devoting my life to, and when the end comes, I will not be ashamed.

Dear Lord, thank you for being my refuge, my rock and fortress. For being trustworthy, so that those who take refuge in You will never be put to shame. When I am overcome by feelings of fear and despair, help me to remember the times I have relied on You, and to remember Your righteousness and everlasting salvation.

Written by Cathy Croft