Psalms 91:2 states, “I will say to the Lord, ‘my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’”
Our words have power because words create thoughts; thoughts create feelings and beliefs; beliefs produce behavior that influences our destiny. To proclaim the Lord is your refuge is to claim that He is your protection from danger or difficulty and is a place of safety. A fortress is a secure place that offers protection or a place of defense. So, when we dwell in the shelter of God through prayer, praise, and pondering Scripture, then we will be protected from evil and temptations. God wants us to trust Him by believing and having confidence in His protection. To know more about trusting God, read these blogs: 15 Promises We Can Trust God to Keep and Trust God to Keep His Promises
What keeps us from seeking shelter in God?
One reason we don’t seek the shelter of God is because we are focused on our problems instead of giving our problems to God. Many times, we try to solve our problems without God, which does not work out well. Sometimes we seek the pleasures of this world instead of seeking God. Also, pride and sinfulness keep many of us from seeking God because we think we don’t need Him. Often, we don’t think to pray and trust God. And, we think we can take care of our problems or trust in others or the government to help us. My friend, Mary Fisher, shared with me that “Some people let guilt and feelings of unworthiness keep them from seeking God. We need to realize we are never worthy of going before God, even when we think we’ve been good. And we are never un-welcome if we come with humble and repentant hearts. Coming before God honestly is hard because we must face up to our sins. But He wants to forgive us and for us to leave our sins at the cross.”
What are the benefits of going to God for our protection and trusting Him to help us?
Meditate (think deeply about; reflect; ponder) on the following Scriptures about trusting God. Identify the benefits of trusting Him.
Psalm 9:10 states, “And those who know Your name put their trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.”
Psalm 56:3 states, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.”
Psalm 56:11 states, “In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
Psalms 62:8 states, “Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. “
Psalm 115:11 states, “You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.” Proverb 14:26 also states, “In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge.”
Psalm 118:8 states, “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.”
Psalm 118:9 states, “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.”
Proverb 3:5 states, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
Remember, words have power, so claim the following verses by personalizing them and praying with thankfulness. If you are keeping a journal then write out two prayers per Scripture passage beginning with “I will say, I…” and “Thank you Lord for….”
Joel 3:10b states, “Let the weak say, ‘I am strong; NIV, a warrior; ESV, a mighty man; NAS.’”
Psalm 27:1 David states, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 142:5 David states, “I cry to You, O LORD; I say;’ You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.’”
Isaiah 41:13 states, “For I, the LORD your God, holds your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you.’”
Psalm 46:1 states, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
Psalm 18:2 states, “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.”
Psalm 31:19 states, “Oh, how abundant is Your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear You and worked for those who take refuge in You, …”
Proverb 18:10 states, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and are safe.”
Psalm 124:7,8 states, “We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers (demons); the snare is broken, and we have escaped! Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
What does it mean to take refuge?
What would seeking refuge in God look like in your life according to these verses?
How would the name of the Lord be a strong tower, and what would it mean to run into it and be safe?
How can a Spirit be a fortress, a strong tower, or a rock in which we can take refuge?
When you think of a fortress you think of something strong that protects you. We can trust God to protect us from Satan’s unseen schemes, and troubles from demonic forces of darkness because God is stronger and mightier than the devil and demons of this world. Just think, He parted the Red Sea to save over a million people, who crossed on dry ground to escape the Egyptian army (see Exodus 14:13-31). Archeologists have now discovered Egyptian chariots at the bottom of the Red Sea. Furthermore, God caused the walls of Jericho to fall except the part of the wall where Rahab the harlot lived, because she trusted and believed God would protect her and her family. She also helped the Israelite spies escape and asked God to save her and her family (see Joshua 6:1-27).
God performed hundreds of miracles of protection and deliverance for people just like you and me, which are recorded throughout the Bible. How can we not trust Him? Remember, “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world” (see 1 John 4:4b). I highly recommend reading missionary biographies to see that God continues to do miracles on behalf of those who put their trust in Him. I highly recommend reading George Muller’s biography to see how God miraculously answered his prayers of faith.
Why do we doubt that God can be our refuge?
By saying, “the Lord is my refuge and fortress,” we are placing our mind and spirits under the protection of the Spirit of God our Lord. When we turn to God to shield and protect us, then the evil spirits flee (see James 4:7). Unless we draw near to God, repent of sin, and continually think of Him and His truths, we will be vulnerable to the lies and temptations that demons use to entrap and harm us.
Read my other related posts:
Four Realities of the Spirit World
WORDS HAVE POWER—Part I: Overcoming The Destruction of Offensive Words
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P.S.: Experiencing a lasting change in your life depends on having a right relationship with God the Father through believing in His Son Jesus Christ and obeying His command to love (1 John 3).
Hope for Complete Healing 