Intentional Faith: God is Our Refuge & Strength

Intentional Faith: God is Our Refuge & Strength
LOVEEXCELLENTLY


God’s Word – “When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” Psalm 94:18-19

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.[c]

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the LORD has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields[d] with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Encouragement Shared: As I read Psalm 46 it is an encouragement to God’s mighty strength and increasing power. As my daughter and I get the news of hurricane Irene-we didn’t believe that we escaped the hurricanes when we moved to the Carolinas but as we watch the weather report it is a reminder and familiarity of the weather forecasts in South Florida. We lived through Hurricane Katrina and Wilma. In 2005 we lived through 3 category 5 hurricanes and now we are facing a category 3 in our new home hundreds of miles away from South Florida.

As we read Psalm 46 it is a reminder that he is always present in ALL times and ALL types of trouble. That even though the earth may give way – the mountains fall into the heart of the sea – though the waters roar and foam – the mountains quake with surging – God is our refuge and strength. The theme of this Psalm is Be still and know that he is God! Regardless of our life circumstances God is an ever-present in our circumstance. He is present in our sickness and in our health, in brokenness and restoration. He is present in our daily lives, in our marriages if we open the door and allow him in. Yes, God is present in our parenting ability training up our children according the admonition of his word. We need to read his word and sincerely believe that God is truly our refuge and strength and help in trouble. And if we truly believe the word then we will reap the benefits of the fruit of the word in our lives.

For me personally it always leads me back to his word- it is in his word we are to put our hope. Psalm 130:5 it is in Him we are to commit all our plans in order to succeed. Proverbs 16:3 – It is in His word we are to meditate on day and night not turning to the right or left so that we may be careful to do everything written in it. This will bring us to be prosperous and successful. God’s word commands us to be strong and courageous. For us not to be afraid; we are not to be discouraged, for the LORD our God will be with us wherever we go.” Joshua 1 Yes, my beloved sisters God is our refuge and strength an ever-present help in trouble. So let us be committed to reading his word, praying his word and memorizing so that it is written on the tablet of our hearts and ready on the tip our tongues. Let our faith increase by the power of the written word sown in our hearts. May the glory of God’s word equip you for every good work you are called to in Christ.

Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance,

Love in Christ,

Jennifer Pettiford