Saturday 21 March, 2015

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a] 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

When reading this Psalm, I am instantly reminded of the security I have in knowing God and who He is. I can think of so many people in my world who don’t know Jesus and experience fear, insecurity and doubt in what they face.

Yet I love how this Psalm repeatedly highlights what we have when we accept Jesus as our Saviour… rest in His shadow (vs 1), a refuge and place of safety (vs 2), shelter and armour (vs 4), His angels as our protection (vs 11), salvation and eternal life (vs 16). I am so humbled to think that the Creator of the universe loves me enough to watch over me and protect me.

God, I thank You for being my protection and my rescuer. Thank You for bringing me out of darkness, and into a life that does not need to fear the things of this world. Please help me to take refuge in You, and know that You are with me every day of my life. Amen

Written by Laura Samperi