Psalm 46:1 - God Is Our Refuge, Strength And Ever-Present Help.
Psalm 46:1 (NKJV) God is our refuge and
strength, A very present help in trouble.
INTRODUCTION
The fear of mountains or cities suddenly
crumbling into the sea as the result of an earthquake
or a nuclear blast haunts many people today.
But the psalm writer says that even if the world
were to end, we need not fear. In the face of
utter destruction, the writer expressed a quiet
confidence in God's ability to save him. It seems
impossible to consider the end of the world without
becoming consumed by fear, but the Bible is clear -
God is our refuge even in the midst of total
destruction. He is not merely a temporary retreat; he is
our eternal refuge and can provide strength in
any circumstance. [Life Application SB]
COMMENTARY PEARLS
While engaged in our daily work, we
should lift the soul to heaven in prayer. These
silent petitions rise like incense before the
throne of grace; and the enemy is baffled. The
Christian whose heart is thus stayed upon God cannot
be overcome. No evil arts can destroy his
peace. All the promises of God's word, all the
power of divine grace, all the resources of
Jehovah, are pledged to secure his deliverance. It
was thus that Enoch walked with God. And God was
with him, a present help in every time of
need. {GW 254.2}
Prayer is the breath of the soul. It is
the secret of spiritual power. No other means of
grace can be substituted, and the health of the
soul be preserved. Prayer brings the heart into
immediate contact with the Well-spring of life, and
strengthens the sinew and muscle of the religious
experience. Neglect the exercise of prayer, or engage in
prayer spasmodically, now and then, as seems
convenient, and you lose your hold on God. The spiritual
faculties lose their vitality, the religious
experience lacks health and vigor. {GW 254.4}
It is only at the altar of God that we
can kindle our tapers with divine fire. {GW
255.1}
With the large family we have, I created
an online, ready-made, grocery shopping list.
With one click, all of the typical items we buy
are put into our virtual cart, and I scan down
the list to see if there is anything we don't
need.
Recently, I've created a "Hoping List."
These are scriptures that I turn to when my hope
is gone. When I am discouraged, I read verses
that remind me that the Lord delivers me out of
my troubles (Psalm 34:17-19) and He is close to
the brokenhearted (Psalm 147:3). When I am
overwhelmed, I read that I can cast my burdens to the
Lord (Psalm 55:22). When I am weary, I am
reminded that those who wait on the Lord shall renew
their strength (Isaiah 40:31).
I find hope by exchanging my worries with
the truth in God's Word. Scripture reminds me to
turn to Jesus, to still my thoughts, and to trust
Him (Colossians 3:2). Hope isn't limited to my
own resources. Instead, I can tap into Jesus's
abundance anytime. God's Word doesn't cost a penny
(unlike groceries). Just as my online shopping list
is accessible to me anytime day or night, so is
my Hope.
My "Hoping List" reminds me that even
though I sometimes get low on hope, replenishing it
is only an arm's length away in my Bible, and
Jesus is only a prayer away. Tricia Gayer
Faith Step: Create your own "Hoping
List," Write down the scriptures noted in this
devotion and more of your favorites. Keep this list
in a place that you can turn to often, whenever
you run out of hope. [Mornings With Jesus 2023
Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
The psalmist David writes, "God is our
refuge and strength, an ever-present help in
trouble." Nothing is more suffocating, more soul
stifling, than hopelessness. This dark feeling spreads
when we fail to sense God's hand or the presence
of His help in hardship. It's demoralizing to
feel as though He is off somewhere in His wide
universe, distracted by a billion other needs bigger
than ours. Hope, however, is built on fact. And
the fact is, God never takes time off from
tending to our needs. When troubles come, He doesn't
back away to allow Satan a free hand. It isn't
just God's assistance that's accessible at all
times; the psalmist declares that God Himself is
the always-present help in every trial. The Lord
of light is your friend in darkness. The Lord
of life stands beside you in death. The Lord of
hope is your companion in despair. The Prince of
Peace supports you when no peace can be found. The
God of all comfort waits faithfully near you.
Yes. You are truly my refuge and
strength, dear Lord. Thank You for always being
present in my trials. When troubles cloud my
horizon, when worries surround like a pack of wolves,
when hope and courage drain away from my soul,
You are as near as can be - as close as the air
in my lungs and the blood in my veins. [A
Spectacle of Glory by Joni Eareckson Tada and Larry
Libby]
ILLUSTRATION
More Attached To God
A young Irishman, Joseph Scriven
(1820-1886), was deeply in love with a young woman, and
their marriage plans had been made. The night
before their wedding, however, she drowned in a
tragic accident. For months Scriven was bitter, in
utter despair.
At last he turned to Christ, and through
His grace, found peace and comfort. Out of this
experience he wrote the familiar hymn that has brought
consolation to millions of aching hearts: "What a friend
we have in Jesus / All our sins and griefs to
bear!"
Sometimes our way lies in the sunlight.
it was so for Joseph Scriven as he approached
his wedding day. But like him, we may find that
our path also leads through the dark shadows of
loss, disappointment, and sorrow.
Yet even sorrows turn to blessings when
they make us less attached to the earth and more
attached to God. Then more than ever we discover that
Jesus truly is our friend - "All our sins and
griefs to bear!"
Lord, may every earthly loss serve to
lead me to the Cross. Whatever good things come
and go in this life, let the cry of my heart
always be, God is all I need. [Hope for Each
Day by Billy Graham]
CLOSING THOUGHT
God Alone Knows Our Future
The longer we walk with the Lord, the
more we realize that we really don't know what
each new day may bring. A phone call can come in
the middle of the night shattering our joy.
Suddenly everything changes. It's amazing what a
knock at the door can bring or what the opening of
a letter can do.
I don't say these things to conjure up
fear in our hearts, but simply to remind us that
God alone knows our future. And there's no
safer, no better, no more rewarding place to be
than in the nucleus of His will, regardless of
where that may be.
We are only finite human beings. We can
only see the present and the past. The future is
a little frightening to us. So we need to hold
on to His hand and trust Him to calm our fears.
And at those times when we're stubborn and
resisting and God shakes us by the shoulders to get
our attention, we're reminded that we don't call
the shots, God has a plan for us, mysterious
though it may seem, and we want to be in the center
of it.
All the risks notwithstanding, the center
of His will is still the safest place on earth
to be.
There's no more rewarding place to be
than in the nucleus of Gods will, regardless
of where that may be. [Chuck Swindoll
www.insight.org.]
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
I am your ever-present help. Many people
stumble out of bed in the morning and head straight
for the coffee pot. Though they are not yet
thinking clearly, they are awake enough to move
toward something that will help unscramble their
thoughts. I perform a similar function for you when
your mind stumbles in My direction. Ask Me to
clear out the confusion so you can communicate
deeply with Me. You have this amazing capacity
because I created you in My own image.
As you wait in My Presence, I not only
unscramble your thoughts, I straighten your path
through the day. I am sovereign over every aspect of
your life, so opening up the way before you is no
problem for Me. Some people assume they don't have
time to begin their day with Me. They don't
realize how much I can facilitate their activities -
removing obstacles and giving insights that save
time. When you spend precious moments with Me, I
compensate you generously: I clarify your thinking and
smooth out the circumstances of your life. (Psa.
46:1; Gen. 1:27; Jer. 32:17; Psa. 33:20) [Jesus
Always by Sarah Young]
This is what I say - I who made you, who
formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do
not be afraid. I have always been involved in
your life, even before you were born. Because you
are Mine, purchased with My own blood, you can
count on My promise to help you as you journey
through this world. This is how you gain victory
over fear: through trusting in My ever-present
help.
The problem arises when you gaze too long
into the future, trying to visualize and take
control of those not-yet events. A future-focus can
easily deteriorate into a problem-focus. Weeds of
worry and fear spring up quickly in this sort of
"soil." When you realize this has happened, turn
away from your worries and back to the One who is
lovingly present with you. Rejoice that I will still
be with you when you arrive at each coming
stage of your journey. Lean hard on My Presence,
trusting Me to help you today - and all the days of
your life. (Isa. 44:2; Psa. 46:1; 23:6) [Jesus
Always by Sarah Young]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Psalm 46:1 - God Is Our Refuge, Strength And
Ever-Present Help.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20221230-1040.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2015/20150305-2109.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
