DEVOTION / Our mighty fortress
Ever play "soldier" as a kid? We did. We were always fighting "our enemies" – the "bad guys"! With our toy guns we were always looking for "cover" to protect ourselves.
We weren't thinking about medieval times. But if we had been, we would have been looking for a castle . . . or a fortress. Being protected by thick stone walls, a moat, and a drawbridge would have made us feel pretty secure, better than the bushes, trees, or big rocks we used to shield ourselves.
The Lord is better protection!
Psalm 18:2 calls our Almighty Lord our "rock" and our "fortress." What comfort to know that God is our "deliverer" and the "strength" in whom we trust.
With the pressure of the Chinese leaders cracking down on churches and Christian beliefs, our brothers and sisters in faith likely know the meaning of these words better than we do. Churches demolished, pastors and fellow believers interrogated, imprisoned. The news seems to worsen each day. How easy it might be to despair at this growing evil.
Watch & pray!
As fellow Christians, we need to remember God's promises. He is THE strong fortress where his people run for protection. The Lord Jesus is our Savior. He is our sure defense.
Isaiah 12:2 promises, Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation (NIV).
In Psalm 61:3, the psalmist writes, For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe (NIV).
Proverbs 18:10 reminds us, The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe (NIV).
Today, let's make it a priority to lift up prayers for our persecuted brothers and sisters in faith. Let us pray that even amid the persecutions, God's Spirit gives them the faith and courage to persevere.
Hope in suffering...
We know that in this fallen world, God's people suffer and hurt. Our Almighty Lord is our refuge. We can have peace knowing that our eternity is safe in Him. Nothing can snatch us from His hand. Paul reassures us in Romans 8:37-39 – We are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (NIV).
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for being our Rock and our mighty Fortress, our Refuge in times of trouble!
by Dave Payne