Verse of the Day - weekend 4/18

Through the Bible - 1 Samuel 24-28, Luke 17:20 - 18:34

 

Good morning,

For today's verse we'll turn to Psalm 46 perhaps better known to us for verse 10, "Be still and know that I am God".  It is a powerful psalm that points out that God is our refuge and strength in the storms of life.  This psalm was the inspiration of one of the churches greatest hymns, written by Martin Luther, "A Mighty Fortress is our God".

 

After reading in verse one that "God is our refuge and strength", we'll go to verses 2 and 3 for today's verse of the day.

 

Ps 46:2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling.
 Selah    NKJV
or from the Message

Ps 46:2-3  We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
courageous in seastorm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans,
the tremors that shift mountains.

I've been in an earthquake in Seattle several years ago and it is frightening to feel the earth that you think is so solid shaking beneath you.  That earthquake was fairly mild compared to those in Italy recently and countless others across the world which caused great devastation and can bring about sunami's that stir up the sea to cause as much or greater damage than the earthquakes that caused them.

 

I've been through personal "earthquakes" which have rocked me to my core, to the heart, and can say thankfully, that God has been my refuge.

The words of today's verses bring to mind one of my favorite songs by Steve Green.  Read the words of the song and read the psalm below as preparation for worship this weekend.  Having this belief in our hearts, at the core of our being, will help us, enable us to stand in the storms of life.

 

We Believe

 

We believe in the Father, who created all that is
And we believe the universe and all therein is His
As a loving heavenly Father, He yearned to save us all
To lift us from the fall . . . We believe

We believe in Jesus the Father's only Son
Existing uncreated before time had begun
A sacrifice for sin, He died then rose again
To ransom sinful men, We believe

We believe in the spirit who makes believers one
Our hearts are filled with His presence
The Comforter has come
The kingdom unfolds in His plan
Unhindered by quarrels of man
His church upheld by His hand . . . We believe

Though the earth be removed
And time be no more
These truths are secure
God's word shall endure
Whatever may change, these things are sure . . . We believe

So if the mountains are cast down into the plains
When kingdoms all crumble, this one remains
Our faith is not subject to seasons of man
With our fathers we proclaim
We believe our Lord will come as he said
The land and the sea will give up their dead
His children will reign with Him as their head

We believe
We believe

Selah - pause, think about that.

 

In Christ,

Mike

 

God the Refuge of His People and Conqueror of the Nations

46 God is our refuge and strength,A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear,Even though the earth be removed,And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,Though the mountains shake with its swelling.Selah
4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. 6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;The God of Jacob is our refuge.Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,Who has made desolations in the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;He burns the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God;I will be exalted among the nations,I will be exalted in the earth!
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;The God of Jacob is our refuge.Selah
P
NKJV