Tell Yourself the Truth, God is Your Fortress and Your Rock.

But the Lord has become my fortress,     
   and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.

Psalms 94:22 NIV

David's view of God is so very vivid. So very real. The LORD, in David's experience, was a fortress, and the rock in whom he took refuge. When David was pursued by his enemies and he was feeling anxious, he found strength in the LORD, in remembering who God is. 

I can picture David as a boy, tending the sheep, all alone, with his rod and his staff. I am sure that many a time he felt anxious and afraid. It was during those times that he learned to call on God and trust him to be his fortress and the rock in whom he took refuge. When he sang his psalms he was reminding himself of the truth about the Lord whom he trusted. He learned that God could and would deliver him. 

When David was pursued by his enemies, even his own king whom he served, David remembered that God delivered him from the lion and the bear. He knew God. He told himself the truth about God when he was anxious and afraid. This is the lesson for us today. No matter the enemy, God is your fortress and the rock in whom you take refuge. We need to tell ourselves the truth about God. Say it with me now, "God, you are my fortress, my rock in whom I take refuge." 

From Shame to Radiance in the Chaos

I will extol the Lord at all times;
   his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the Lord;
   let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me;
   let us exalt his name together. 
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
   he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
   their faces are never covered with shame.
Psalms 34:1-5 (NIV)

David didn't call on God from a comfortable cozy little nook in the palace. Saul was seeking to kill him because of jealousy. He was running for his life. In the midst of chaos David sought God and found him. God heard David and answered his prayer. He felt no shame and the radiant glory of the God who saves us reflected in his life. 

Father, hear our prayers from the chaos in our lives. We look to you to answer and deliver us. Change our shame to radiance. Praise be to you in us today.

IN GOD ALONE

"My soul finds rest in God alone;
     my salvation comes from him.
 He alone is my rock and my salvation;
     he is my fortress, I will never be shaken."
 Psalm 62:1-2

What are you going through right now? What are the battles of your life? As Christians we turn to God, no matter what they are or where we are. 

The only place to find rest is in God. Look someplace else and you won't find it. Not truthful rest. You see, because God is Sovereign and has unfailing love for you, you can rest in the truth that he will work all things (even your blunders) for the good. Our hope is not in a blind "things will work out" but, in God who works them out. 

Find rest in God, in him alone.

Father, thank you that we may find rest in you! Help us to trust in you. Praise be to you in us today! 

DON'T MESS AROUND WITH VICTORY

"The Philistines had abandoned their gods there, and David gave orders to burn them in the fire." I Chronicles 14:12

After battling the Philistines David didn't mess around. He sought God. He acted in faith and fought the battle. God granted him victory. 

As usual the enemy left a little temptation for David and the troops. A bunch little idols. 

David didn't need to ask God what to do with them, he knew. Get rid of them. Burn them and make them useless even as an object of worship. 

Is there something in your life that you need to get rid of? Do you find yourself tempted by the same thing over and over again, especially after a victory?

Get rid of it. Burn it. Don't mess around. Seek Christ and rest in him. 

Jesus, thank you for the victory we have in Christ over sin. Help us to continue to turn to you, even after our victories. Praise be to you in us today!

"I GOT THIS" (DAVID'S COURAGE AND FAITH)

"David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him."" I Samuel 17:32

You've got to love it! Simple courage and flat out faith. Saul and the whole army of Israel, including David's older brothers, were paralyzed with fear, unable to fight the giant of a man Goliath. David comes to the battle lines to deliver supplies to his older brothers and their commander. He sees everyone reacting in great fear to Goliath. He ends up in the king's tent and basically says, "Don't worry guys, I got this." 

How could David have such faith and such courage while everyone else was running away at the very sight of the enemy? David told Saul, "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine" (I Samuel 17:37).  David knew, by faith, from experience that the battle is the Lord's and he was ready and willing to step out in faith and fight Goliath. 

So, the lesson for us is that we need to fight the battles of our lives by faith in Christ. Faith that the power that raised Jesus from the dead can work in our lives today! 

Father, help us to fight the daily battles of our lives by faith in you. Thank you for you faithfulness! Praise be to you in us today!

SHINE IN THE DARKNESS: Psalm 43:1

"Vindicate me, O God, 
     and plead my cause against an ungodly nation;
     rescue me from deceitful and wicked men." 
 Psalm 43:1

During the last Presidential election the Democratic Party (at their convention) voted on keeping God and Israel in their platform. The  "vote" was so close the chairperson (Antonio Villaraigosa) had to redo it three times! We live in a nation that is rejecting God. 

We need to shine like stars in the darkness (Philippians 2:15) in this crooked and perverse generation. God will strengthen you. God will enable you. God will empower you. God will guide you. 

Father, help us to abide in you and shine like stars in this world. Praise be to you in us today!

DOWN NOT OUT: Psalm 41:10-12

"But you, O LORD, have mercy on me;

     raise me up that I may repay them.

 I know that you are pleased with me,

     for my enemy does not triumph over me. 

 In my integrity you uphold me

     and set me in your presence forever."

 Psalm 41:10-12

Let's face it. We all need the grace of God. As Christians, we are enemies of this world. Just believing that Jesus Christ is Lord and that be died and rose again puts us in direct opposition to a world that wants to believe we came from chaos, formed from chance, and live with a moral compass that points only to what you believe will fulfill you at any given moment; self-fulfillment without restraint. 

Are you under attack? Have you been knocked around? Are you still alive? You are down, but not out. God is still Sovereign. God is still in control. Whether you need to be forgiven or to forgive, God is still God over all. He has unfailing love for you. 

I personally don't know what God may do to get you, or me, out of whatever situation that seems to make us out of it, but, he does. Look to him. Wait. He is faithful. 

Father, show us yourself, raise us up that we may glorify you. Praise be to you in us today!

SURROUNDED, TIME TO CALL ON GOD!: Psalm 40:11-12

"Do not withhold your mercy from me, O Lord;
     may your love and your truth always protect me.
 For troubles without number surround me;
     my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. 
 They are more than the hairs of my head,
     and my heart fails within me." Psalm 40:11-12

I love David! What does he do when he totally blows it? He calls on God! He cries out for mercy and asks that God's love and truth would protect him. The enemy, the accuser, would have us wallow in sin, guilt and condemnation. But, why David was called a man after God's own heart was because when he things were at there worst, even due to his own sinful choices, he sought God. 

Are you surrounded by troubles? Do you feel overtaken? Time to seek God. It's past time to try to get yourself together. It's time to seek God. Time to call ask for mercy. Time to let God's love and truth protect you. 

Father, we call out for your mercy! May your love and truth protect us. We are surrounded, overtaken and can't see a way out. We call on you! Thank you that you hear our prayer! Thank you Jesus for being our righteousness! Praise be to you in us today!