A Place to Put My Trust

Psalm 31: ¹ In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
    let me never be put to shame;
    deliver me in your righteousness.
² Turn your ear to me,
    come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
    a strong fortress to save me.
³ Since you are my rock and my fortress,
    for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
⁴ Keep me free from the trap that is set for me,
    for you are my refuge.
⁵ Into your hands I commit my spirit;
    deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.

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Investments were new to me when one of my best friends’ father handed me a magazine teaching me how to invest. He mentioned retirement, buying a house and having money to do stuff. I was nervous because I hadn’t even thought about saving a penny. In fact, my friend and I were headed to a party that evening.

Years later I had saved up a mountain of cash and my attitude went to protection mode versus give. I became nervous at anything that threatened “my” wealth. I found myself worshipping less and working more. BUT GOD knew that.

• When I place my trust in money, it makes me forget how to have peace.
• When I place my trust in the in crowd, it makes me follow their lusts and change who I am.
• When I place my trust in insurance, security alarms, or firewalls it gives me a false sense of security that makes me forget a true need.

I met a man in another country who had his family, a hut, a cow and a lemon tree. He was truly at peace because he had all he needed, meanwhile I had money, fancy cars, and a huge network of people waiting to see if I would succeed or fail. I was the one who could not sleep. I had no peace. GOD wanted my mind somewhere else.

• GOD wants me to take refuge in HIM daily so I can have peace.
• GOD wants me to put aside all problems and focus on HIM for at least a moment so I can have peace.
• GOD wants me to stop playing my problems over and over and over again; slowing down to focus on HIM for just a moment each day.

Taking refuge to me is like when there is a tornado, I run and take shelter. I can run to my depleting cash, I can run to faithless people, I can run to insurance that rejects the claim or I can run to GOD. I chose GOD to quickly deliver me in HIS way in HIS time.

• Are you nervous?
• Where have you put your trust?
• What have you prayed for the most?
• Can you ask GOD for shelter during this storm?
• Will you ask GOD for HIS peace?

ALWAYS is a Strong Word

Psalm 9: ⁹ The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
    a stronghold in times of trouble.
¹⁰ Those who know your name trust in you,
    for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

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I have never seen a time when GOD refused me. I mean I could have done the dumbest thing that would seem catastrophic to our relationship, yet GOD seems to be above the pettiness. It’s almost like GOD can see into my future or something.

• GOD knew the trouble I would go through before HE made me.
• GOD knew each trial I would go through and has already protected me from the impact of the fall.
• GOD knew the snares I would get myself into prior to making me and HE still made me with love and care.

It’s no surprise to GOD when I have a troubled heart. HE knew the trouble was coming a long time before it happened. HE opens HIS arms wide and welcomes me when I truly seek HIM. Blaming GOD is dangerous. Taking JESUS’ death and resurrection lightly is intolerable to GOD. Stifling the HOLY SPIRIT is unacceptable. Yet when I do these things GOD does something amazing. HE wipes away my tears and holds me tight.

GOD ALWAYS is trustworthy.

• Where do you seek your peace?
• Do you think the trouble you are in is not known by GOD?
• Can you truly seek HIS face today?

Comfort versus the Wild

Psalm 5 ¹¹ But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
    let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

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Working for a company thirty or forty years was my goal when I graduated. That’s what the generation before me did. They worked hard and retired with a mountain of cash, house paid off and the dream realized. As I sat at my desk I felt that I couldn’t work for this particular company another day let alone thirty nine more years! But the job was so comfortable. I felt guilty for looking.

• Sometimes I seek to find a comfortable place.
• Sometimes I seek places here on earth where I can exhale.
• Sometimes I seek situations where the stress is low and utopia abounds.

Disappointed by not getting the first job I applied for, I almost gave up the search. Maybe the town and dead end job I had was where I was supposed to be. BUT GOD intervened. A recruiter called me and whisked me away to another city. I would go on a ride I never would have believed. I forgot to mention, this happened when I started seeking GOD.

• When I seek GOD as my refuge, the location doesn’t matter.
• When I seek GOD as my refuge, the job doesn’t matter.
• When I seek GOD as my refuge, the situation doesn’t matter.

GOD is where I am supposed to seek my comfort. HE provide a place of solace on a daily basis. HE enables me to sing songs to HIM even through rocky times. Looking back the only stability in situations has been GOD. I mean I have had some good times and bad BUT GOD has always been there. HE provides my joy!

• Are you seeking comfort?
• Do you want to just have a breather?
• Can you focus on GOD for you refuge?
• Will you allow HIM to give you peace?