“I love You, O LORD, my strength.” The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies." Psalm 18:1-3
This is a psalm of deliverance, written by David after the Lord saved Him from all his enemies and the hand of Saul. David called God his rock and fortress. Rock is solid, a fortress is impenetrable. Then David described God as his shield, the horn of his salvation, and his stronghold.
A shield is used for protection. In the horn of an animal is its strength and defense. A stronghold is a place that has been fortified to protect it against attack.
So essentially, David is saying that God is his strength; a solid, impenetrable, place of protection that enemies can't overcome. This is David's song of praise, and it can be ours, as well. Our enemies may not be flesh and blood, as his were. They may come in the form of fear, worry, doubt or hopelessness. When they make their appearance, we must call upon the Lord and take refuge in Him. He has promised to give us His peace.
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." (John 14:27)
God never leaves us defenseless. If you're feeling overwhelmed today, call upon His name and take refuge in Him!
Today's music video You Are My Refuge by Maranatha Praise Band may not be a new song, but the message is clearly timeless. Not to mention that the song is beautiful. Enjoy!
I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.
Hello Nancy, Thank you so much for this Monday Morning Encouragement! I originally found you when you started your YouTube channel. Recently I signed up to receive emails when you post to your blog. Today I took some time to browse around this space and read some of your older posts. Goodness! What a blessing that was. I especially loved your post back in 2020, Starting Over. You wrote about God's unconditional love and how your situation at the time didn't define you, nor did your widowhood years before. I loved the scripture you included. Honestly, reading that really woke me up. My husband of 52 years died about a year and a half ago, very unexpectedly while we were traveling. We loved travel and road trips across America. I'm fortunate to have a son with family near by. They're incredibly loving and supportive, but I've been struggling to get my footing. I'm still trying to figure out who I am without my other half. I realize today that I don't wish to be defined by widowhood. I'm still alive and in reasonably good health. I want to live and do what the Lord has left for me to do. Thank you for your encouragement, both here and on YouTube!
ReplyDeleteBrooke, I'm so sorry for your loss. My husband passed suddenly, so I understand the trauma of an unexpected death. I'm so glad you have the love and support of your family. Fifty-two years of marriage is a great accomplishment, and I hope that has given you some comfort as you rebuild your life. I recall telling my friends after Jim's death that "God has something for me that doesn't include Jim." He always, always has a plan. It helps me to remember that before I was even conceived He knew my entire life. Every chapter, every page, every sentence, every word. He is faithful. He is reliable. And He brings beauty out of ashes. Thank you for sharing your story, Brooke. God bless you and keep your.♥
DeleteBeautiful message and music as always Nancy. Have a great week ahead. Hugs. Kris
ReplyDeleteThank you for this beautiful reminder, Nancy. Today I'm going to focus on the fact that God is in complete control of everything. We can trust Him and rest in Him.
ReplyDeleteAlways so encouraging, Nancy! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAll I want to say is thank you. Thank you for your lovely blog and for your beautiful spirit.
ReplyDeleteHow thankful I am for His love for us, and that He is always a refuge for us from the storms of life!
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