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." 

Are You a Jacob? God is Your Fortress.

The LORD Almighty is with us;
   the God of Jacob is our fortress.    Selah
Psalm 46:7,11

God is with us...whatever else is going on around us, God, the Lord Almighty is with us. Every now and then when we are out doing something my son will just sort of come up next to me for a moment and then go off and do his thing. It's like he just has to see if I am there, and then he's good to go. 

We're the same way, aren't we? Throughout the day we just need to take a moment to remember that the Lord Almighty is with us. 

I am encouraged that the psalmist says, "the God of Jacob". The God of Jacob, to me, signifies that God works with those of us who seem to find trouble all by ourselves. Jacob's name means "he grasps the heel" or figuratively, "to deceive". A pastor of mine once paraphrased the meaning as "lying, sneaking, thief". Jacob seemed to struggle through everything. But, God was with him. God used him and God fulfilled his promises to Jacob and through him. 

Maybe you are like me and you identify with Jacob. Jacob's God is our God too. He is our fortress. That is good to know.

Thank you, Lord Almighty! 

HAS GOD BEEN YOUR FORTRESS? / PSALM 48:1-3

"Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, 
     in the city of our God, his holy mountain.
 It is beautiful in it loftiness,
     the joy of the whole earth.
 Like the utmost heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion,
     the city of the Great King.
 God is in her citadels;
     he has shown himself to be her fortress."
 Psalm 48:1-3

Many times I have found myself to be in the middle of a battle, and God was my only place of refuge. He has always shown himself to be my fortress. I may have taken a few incoming blasts from the enemy, but, in the end, God has always been my fortress. 

I was managing (usually the night shift) a Mimi's Cafe and I caught the day manager, several times, taking money from my drawer and putting it in his. This made my drawers come out off and his were right on. I told the general manager and he just blew me off! Finally, after several months, another manager got the GM to listen and they fired the manager who was taking money from my drawer. It took awhile, but in the end I was vindicated. 

As Christians, we will be in constant battle until Christ comes again to reign triumphant. So, trust and obey. Keep up the good fight and remember the many times he has recused you. 

How has God been your fortress?

Father, open our eyes to see you in our lives. Help us to remain in you! Praise be to you in us today!