by Ricky Chelette
I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.
Psalms 18:1-3
Troubles come. If you are alive you can rest assured that difficulties will come. If you are a lover of the Jesus Way, you know your faith will be tested and your resolve to follow Him will be tried. It is only in those moments of testing that you will realize the nature of your true devotion. When you are squeezed, when the pressure is on, where you run for comfort and help may tell more about your heart than where you attend church or even how you spend our money.
In Ps. 18 the psalmist declares a deep dependence and confidence in God’s goodness. He uses words like “rock,” “fortress,” “deliverer,” “refuge,” “shield,” and “stronghold.” Each of these words is packed with meaning and rich with life-application. Each word communicates the immutability (the unchanging nature) of God. He is not like us. He NEVER changes.
When difficulties come in your life, where do you run? Do you seek to medicate the pain with food, busyness, drugs, porn, sex, or some other sin? Or do you run to Jesus, our rock and refuge? Do you truly know that He is safe (our refuge) and will protect and provide for you (our deliverer)?
I often like to expand and personalize a Psalm. Here’s my expanded edition. I hope it will be encouraging to you.
“I love you, O Lord (the One Creator and Sustain of all that is), my strength (the One who supplies me with courage and stamina when I have none).
The Lord is my rock (my solid foundation of granite), and my fortress (my impenetrable barricade) and my deliverer (my rescuerer),
my God, my rock (the immovable One), in whom I take refuge (the One who is full of understanding, grace and well acquainted with my gief),
my shield (my first line of defense), and the horn of my salvation (the initiator, sustainer, and provider of my love relationship with Him), my stronghold (the One who holds on to me even when I am not holding on to Him),
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
In your moments of pain, hurt, confusion and difficulty may you run to Him and not from Him.He really is THE only option for He holds everything together.Take refuge in Him. Run to Jesus today!