Day 5: WORSHIP—Are You up for Finding Refuge in God Daily
'Then say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to say to you: Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the wilderness. But until now you have not listened.”—Exodus 7:16
('The Lord … has sent me to say … worship me'—Exodus 7:16): Worship—Photo by NC-Mineral on Unsplash
Blog #007
Refuge
This devotional is adapted from an article by Joan Esherick. It really challenged me to rethink the idea of refuge as something I need to do every day and not just in the tough times of my life.
She had been away for the weekend enjoying finding refuge in God. Amidst the peace and tranquillity of the setting - the quiet of the mountains, placid lakes, flowering plants - this was the perfect place to find refuge! But was it?
Returning to the real world
But then she returned home to the kids, the house work, the telephone .... and oh that phone .. after 8 calls she told her daughter to say she wasn't there!
Finding refuge in God
What had happened? Where was her peace and refuge?Helpful thoughts - refuge isn't an escape from life, refuge occurs in the midst of life.
It occurs every day, in all circumstances and not just tough times. I need to find refuge in my God always. Root of Refuge. Psalm 18:2 'The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my Saviour; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection, He is my shield, the power that saves me and my place of safety.'
Psalm 31:2 'Be my rock of protection, a fortress where I will be safe.'
Psalm 62:6 & 7 & Psalm 71:3.
When the psalmist fled to His 'rock' - his refuge in God - he trusted in God's unchanging character.
He sought refuge in God because He is loving - Psalm 36:7,
Always present - Psalm 46:1,
Good - Psalm 34:8. My refuge needs to be in the very person of God.
Requirements of Refuge
I must make God my refuge (Psalm 62:8) - Trust in Him at all times, O people.. for God is our refuge. Robbers of refuge, business, worry, inattention to God's word, unbelief, the shelter of false comforts—TV, novels, food, things and other people. Don't try to self resolve —rely on God.
Be fully God dependent and not self dependent.
Oswald Chambers—'Abram grew past the point of relying on his own common sense'.
'Never try to help God fulfil His word'. Have visible reminders to help us seek God time and time again. Results of refuge Isaiah 26:3 - Peace comes as we focus on God. Assurance of safety - Psalm 91-9-11
As I think about God as my refuge, can I see Him with me in every aspect of my life? In the hard times and also in the very happy times.
If the basis of my refuge is the character of God .... how do I view God?Psalm 71:3 - Be my rock of safety where I can always hide.
Today's challenge
If I am to find refuge in God every day and not just in challenging times where do I need to do this today?
Think about the character of God ... what is my God like?Create your own refuge spot today.
Join in the conversation
We'd love to hear what God has been doing to bring about change in you life during this period of fasting. Please leave a comment below.
