God finds me in the darkness, the place where fear of the unknown resides, but he doesn’t leave me there. He is my personal light, revealing the sin of my heart, showing my desperate need, and illuminating the right path to take.
Daily Devotion
Daily Devotion
Refuge: Friendship with God
Fear and friendship. Those words normally don’t go together. How can the Lord be a friend “to those who fear him”? Doesn’t fear cause us to run away? Isn’t friendship for those who stay close?
Refuge: Who Do You Trust?
Some people like to trust in tangible stuff. Things they can see and touch, such as a strong showing of the Dow, a large and equipped military, a secure retirement, or their party running the government.
Refuge: Reasonable and Fair
We are most unsettled when we have settled into disobedience. When our will has its back turned on God, chaos reigns within. When we’ve decided that our way is best, anxiety is amped up. On any road trip away from God, fear rides shotgun.
Refuge: My Place of Safety
The prophet Samuel traveled to Bethlehem and anointed David as the new king of Israel. However, Saul, the reigning and now rejected king, wasn’t a fan of God’s decision. Saul was obsessed with killing the competition. Surrounded by his elite soldiers, Saul chased David around the countryside. After a close call, David wrote the words in today’s passage thanking God for delivering him.
Refuge: Never Shaken
Do you ever have nights when you can’t go to sleep? You toss and turn, and your mind begins to race. Then fear shows up. Anxiety is close behind. For those of you going through times of illness, nights can be the worst. While others sleep, nights are lonely times that invite your mind to entertain all the “what ifs,” and “what ifs” never bring comfort.
Refuge: The Cloud Mover
God’s knowledge is universal. God knows everything there is to know about everything there is to know. God’s knowledge of all things is complete. He doesn’t need to study; there is nothing for him to learn. He knows what will happen tomorrow and 100 years from tomorrow.
Refuge: Where is God in My Grief?
Maybe you have lost a loved one. Maybe you have lost your health. Maybe you have relocated and left good friends behind. Maybe the love of your life has left you behind. Grief is our response to the many different forms of loss. While it feels foreign, it is normal and expected. Moving through mourning is a process that can only progress when our eyes are on the Lord.
Refuge: God is With You
When we walk with God, failure is not possible. We can fail, but God never fails us. Since he is with us, he will give us his success and turn our missteps into learning experiences.
Refuge: The Lord is God!
When the prophet Elijah learned that the people had abandoned God’s instruction and were following other gods, he called a meeting at Mount Carmel. Elijah went before the people and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” Elijah called together the prophets of Baal and challenged them to a duel.
Refuge: Armed!
Perpetua was a 26-year-old mother with a nursing baby when she was imprisoned for refusing to bow before idols. Despite her father appearing with the infant in his arms and pleading for her to sacrifice to idols, she refused. “Are you a Christian?” the judge asked. “I am a Christian,” was her answer. Perpetua was ordered to be killed by wild beasts.
Refuge: A Solid Rock
When we place our trust and confidence in people, sooner or later, we will be left alone and disillusioned. When we seek satisfaction in material things, our hearts will be unfulfilled. When we worship money, we run after a god who only provides fleeting happiness. False gods always leave us abandoned and empty.