Hi how are you all today? I am well. Last week was interesting and slightly challenging as I returned to my old division at work for a short time. I was a little nervous and hoping I hadn’t forgotten anything. It went well so I feel more settled for this week. Has this happened to you? How did you feel?
In this blog I want to hone in on a question – what is my first response? As we read the news and the reels we all can see snippets of what is happening in the world. We are a generation exposed to 24 hour news from not only our nation but most nations around the world.
Not much in the 24 hour news or reels is good news- most of it is death, destruction, war and catastrophic weather events. It can leave us feeling scared, nervous, maybe a bit cynical or we even can get to the stage where these events don’t even move us- stir emotions within us. Our love for others can dim and grow colder. Jesus warned us about this but what can we do? What should be our first response?
I want to look at one of my favourite psalms for the answer. It is Psalm 91 and in the Message Bible it states in verses 1 and 2:
You who sit down in the High God’s presence,
spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow,
Say this: “God, you’re my refuge.
I trust in you and I’m safe!”
Let’s have a good look at this. The first part says we sit down in the presence of God. This is not a person frantically pacing back and forth wondering what to do. It is not someone lying awake at night scared and fearful of what tomorrow might bring. It is someone who is sitting in the presence of God.
Imagine that is you for just a minute. What are you doing? Do you feel at peace? Do you feel safe? This should be our first response when trouble comes. We need to find ourselves in a posture of trust. Trust only happens when we are secure with that person. That is why Bible reading, prayer, meeting with other Christians and worship are so important. It builds our trust in God.
Do I always do this first? No but I need too and so do you.
The next part is we spend the night knowing God is with us. We go to sleep knowing we are in Gods shadow and fully protected by Him. He is our refuge. The only one that can offer that type of protection.
Then we need to say. That’s the next part of the verse. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God and who better to hear it from than yourself. As you and I are going to sleep we should recite those words in that Psalm – God is my refuge. I will trust Him and be safe. Then believe it and have a peaceful sleep.
If we read the rest of that Psalm, the psalmist outlines why the first response above is important and what its purpose is.
The last part of that Psalm in verses 14 to 16 reiterates this and it states:
If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God,
“I’ll get you out of any trouble.
I’ll give you the best of care
if you’ll only get to know and trust me.
Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times;
I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party.
I’ll give you a long life,
give you a long drink of salvation!”
Isn’t that a great promise but it starts with our first response. Our first response is one of sitting in Gods presence and trusting Him with our life no matter what happens.
If we do that then these are the promises:
- God will get us out of trouble
- He will care for us
- If we call, He will answer
- He will rescue us
- He will give us a long life
The promises of God are worth holding onto but we need to trust Him and hold on to Him. Our first response is not fear but abiding.
Let’s practice that this week until our trust in God is so high that all we want to do when trouble comes is run to Him.
Bless you and keep living the life God intended for you.
Karen
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