Your Rock of Refuge
“Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.”
Psalm 71:3 (NIV)
Has life felt like a roller-coaster ride of high hills and huge dips for you lately? As unpredictable as circumstances are, it’s easy to let our emotions start to control us. The Book of Psalms offers help in handling the emotional ups and downs of life. It’s the personal journal of a man after God’s own heart who endured great challenges and yet found divine strength that enabled him to not only survive but to thrive! You may feel overwhelmed, but you don’t have to be overcome! When we personalize the promises in the Book of Psalms, we get perspective that gives us balance and stability. Life is hard. Anxieties within and adversaries from without can compound our feelings of insecurity and leave us emotionally drained and afraid. But in this Psalm, we find a place to run, a rock of refuge to which we can always go! That place is a person! The Psalmist cried, “You (God) are my rock and my fortress!”
What could be more comforting when we’re confused or feeling threatened than to know that we have a God to whom we can always run? The Psalmist prayed, “Give the command to save me.” Have you ever prayed that? When Peter was afraid and beginning to sink in the storm-tossed waves of doubt and disbelief, he cried, “Lord, save me!” It was only then that the Bible said, “And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him ….” Matthew 14:31 (NKJV). How often do we let our emotions get the best of us and find ourselves sinking in despair when we only need to cry out to the One who would save us? He is our source of strength and stability when life knocks us off balance. He is our rock of refuge.
Not only may we run to Him, but the Bible tells us that “He is able to run to the cry of those who are being tempted and put to the test, and bring them aid.” Hebrews 2:14 (Wuest NT): Because Christ is touched by our feelings, we don’t have to be controlled by our emotions. We can surrender them to His care and control. He will replace our fear with faith and strengthen us with hope for the future. The Psalmist expressed a number of fears in this chapter but ended in praise because he took those fears to God. Take a moment today and reflect on these 24 verses in Psalm 71. Rather than remaining on the shifting sand of circumstances, claim this promise in your life and take your stand on solid rock.
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.