Knowing God - He is Our Refuge

Ps 9:9

The Lord also will be a refuge for the

oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

The word ‘refuge’ here means ‘an inaccessible place’.   Oppression speaks of being crushed and afflicted.  The Lord, Himself, wants to be that place that is accessible to us but inaccessible to that which is oppressing us.  When storms rage and flood waters rise, we should seek higher ground for safety.  The storms may continue but we will not drown.  This refuge is the Lord.  We can run into Him and be safe.  If you are going through a season where the waters are rising and your head is barely above water, stop trying to swim in the waters – GO TO HIGHER GROUND!  Go in your room, your back yard or go for a walk.  Begin to worship your refuge and trust that He wants to hide you in the shadow of His wings.  Enjoy His love.  Enjoy His protection!

Proverbs - His Word is a Shield

Proverbs 30:5-6

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

What a wonderful thing to know!  EVERY word of God is true!  I can count on His Word through and through.  He is a shield for us as we trust in him.  He will go between us and anything that would want to harm us.  By knowing His Word we are protected.  By believing what He says we are covered.  We are warned though not to add to his words.  Most of us wouldn’t go around writing a new book of the bible and trying to publish it, but we may do it another way.  We may read something and insert certain conditions that are not there.  We may read a promise of God and impose our own opinion of whether it applies to us.  His word is pure and we must be cautious to not contaminate it with our own opinions and perspectives.  

Knowing God - God Will Save You

Isa 35:4

Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

Here, the fearful is being addressed.  The fearful are being told that they can be strong and not fear.  Why?  Because God will come.  God will come with two things and come and do something.  He will come with a vengeance.  He will come with recompense.  He will come and save you.  God will come with a passion to protect you and stand up for you.  God will come with those consequences and inevitable outcomes that He has written into His eternal law.  He will come and save you.  God will come into those situations that produce fear in our hearts.  We can be strong and not fear BEFORE this happens knowing He will come and do these things.  Our strength and lack of fear is to be rooted in the strong commitment of our God to us and not in seeing or experiencing the deliverance.  The promise, alone, will give us strength and awaken us to courage and stamina in our fearful circumstances.  He will come.  Be strong and fear not!