Dwelling in God’s Shelter

There are many worries that enter our lives that carry with it unwanted distractions, unending frustrations and a fair amount of anxiety. How often have we woken in the middle of the night with the cares and concerns of our lives filling our mind? How often have we laid awake on our beds, seeking an elusive sleep that is kept at bay, because of our thoughts and fears? 

We all have had those nights, regardless of who we are. Yet it is during those times that we need to shift our thinking to the truth of who our God is and who we are in His sight. Instead of focusing on our troubling thoughts, we need to meditate on the words found in Psalm 91:1-6 which reminds us that:

 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.”

When we feel weak and unable to find a solution to our worries, we need to think on the words that God spoke to Paul when He said: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

We need to draw comfort from the words of our Heavenly Father that He spoke to Isaiah saying,  “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:2)

When our cares and our worries feel like they are overwhelming us, let us remember to pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts and our minds with the peace that surpasses all understanding. 

Pray that the Lord will bring to our thoughts the passages of scripture that remind us of our Father’s faithfulness and love.

Let us not forget to pray for those who are struggling with heavy burdens. Pray that they will be filled with a deep, spiritual understanding of who they are in Christ and how much their Heavenly Father loves them.

Worries and anxiety are all a part of living. Everyone feels them, to one degree or another. Yet as Christians, we have been given a Spirit of power, love and self control. Let us tap into those gifts whenever we feel our concerns getting the better of us. Let us remember the words of our God, found in Psalm 91:14-16, which remind us that, “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”