Good grief Gracie! This is one crazy world we are living in! There does not seem to be a place to hide from the insanity. Truth seems like an extremely rare commodity. How did it change so much in, just, the past fifty-plus years? Fifty-plus years ago I was running around the mountainsides, swinging out over the ravine on grapevines, spelunking in the various caves that dotted the hillside and sneaking up the alley way to take a dip in the creek where it pooled into a nice swimming hole. Our biggest worries in school were if we would have enough time for everyone to get a turn at bat during recess and lunch softball games. and home…home was our place of refuge.
The little community that we lived in was small and close. You knew all your neighbors, and all your neighbors knew you, and your business. So in a sense, the community was home. This sense of community activity seems to be something that’s missing in our world today. Home sometimes becomes a place where we just continue outside activities with all our access to the outside world. In the late 50s and early 60s, there were three channels on the TV. It did not seem to consume families like television, computers, phones, and such do now. Home was a place where you were together. You had supper together, and with whoever was around at supper time. You played games together, got in fist fights one minute but in the next you had each others backs. The community was a family in those days. So, in essence, it was our safe haven, our place of refuge also.
Psalm 91 is a psalm that talks about refuge and God’s protection. Many scholars believe that this Psalm was written by Moses. They say that the language used is similar to the writings of Moses in Deuteronomy. (1)
In Psalm 91:1, the writer declares that the man that makes the effort to be close to God privately, to dwell intimately with Him will reside under the shadow of His protection.
This man will say that the Lord is His refuge and his fortress, or as I see it, his place to live in peace. He will be secure in his God and will trust him completely.
His confidence in his God will assure him that God will deliver him from hidden traps or dangerous situations and deadly plagues.
He will rest securely knowing that God has covered him with His protective feathers, under His wings. He will trust Him and the truth of God will be his cover and his protection….his refuge!
Oh how many of God’s own children shy away from inhabiting this refuge! What is the challenge for those of us that call ourselves His children? It could be in developing a desire to continuously remain in God’s presence, to adopt the idea that God is our resting place, our spiritual dwelling place.
How can we apply this to our lives? Choose God, by faith, over the seemingly safe places of the world. Willingly accept His comfort and protection. Resolve to live intimately within His protection and refuge.
My faith is strengthened as I am covered by the shadow of God’s protection and comfort. The longer I sit and abide within this safe place, the more confident I am in His shelter, safety and refuge.
Lord, it has taken years of walking with You to have wedged myself into the rock of refuge which is Your presence and protection. My prayer is that all believers would desire to live in close fellowship with You and be ever closer to the protection that You promise those who earnestly seek You. I am so very thankful for the refuge that is You.
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“1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” Psalm 91:1-4 (KJV)
“Thou [art] my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.” Psalm 32:7 (KJV)
“Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,” Psalm 17:8 (KJV)
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I feel that since God has given me the gift of this platform, I must always tell you about my Jesus.
What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe? Do you know Jesus? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Him? You can know Him. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day, will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity. You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth.
Here is a web page that will give you more information about making your decision for Jesus Christ: Start Your NewLife With Christ.
In addition, here is an excellent page that can give you additional information on peace with God: PeaceWithGod.net.
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(1) BLB Online, Commentaries — C. H. Spurgeon, Psalm 91:1-4)
Restricted Vision, Unburdened Sight 