Abba,
I find myself saying it over and over again. "Never have I seen anything like this in all my life." I hear others saying it. We certainly find ourselves in unfamiliar, uncharted, and uncertain waters.
"The world is changed…" lyrics from a movie ring in my mind. How appropriate it is for our current crisis with this virus ravaging the world.
We have a glimpse into the future; into what is coming. Your word speaks to those days in Revelation with terrifying detail. We know that the world will be rocked and challenged in even greater ways than this. In my mind, it makes me glad that the rapture will take us as your church before the worst of it begins. And who is to know when that day may begin! It may still yet be far off. Yet, these days grant us a glimpse into the future that is yet to come, however near or far away it is. It causes me to pray harder that we proclaim the gospel and see as many as possible rescued from that day.
But in the here and now, how do we cope? Every day I wake wondering…what new twists and turns has this pandemic thrown at us? I wonder, what decisions will be affected today? I wrestle with what decisions to make; where to go, what to do, and how to handle each moment of every day. The eeriness of empty shelves and less populated public spaces scream out from the disquieted silence that they leave in their wake.
And a stirring of fear, anxiety; an unsettling panic worms its way into our hearts and minds. If we bid it welcome, flinging open the doors to embrace it, it would consume us.
And yet, our trust in You, Almighty God (El Shaddai) is stronger than the worm of doubt that would besiege us. Your mighty name, your steadfast love, your ever dependable trustworthiness stays the fleshly panic in our hearts and minds. The ever present words of this Psalm speak peace and stillness into our hearts.
God Is Our Fortress
46 To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with 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 fortress. Selah
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ps 46:title–11). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
What have we to fear, when the words of this passage are so true?
Abba, grant peace to our troubled hearts. Still the stirrings of fear and doubt with the rock and refuge of these truths…you are unchanged. The world…it may be changed. You……Are…..Not! Ever! (Hebrews 13:8).
Whatever may come, let your church, your people be a steadfast rock, unwavering as we cling with JOY and PEACE to the refuge that you are for us. And may we proclaim the glories of your name and shout aloud the praises of your perfection that all the world may hear and believe, You are God.
We love you Abba!
Amen.
I find myself saying it over and over again. "Never have I seen anything like this in all my life." I hear others saying it. We certainly find ourselves in unfamiliar, uncharted, and uncertain waters.
"The world is changed…" lyrics from a movie ring in my mind. How appropriate it is for our current crisis with this virus ravaging the world.
We have a glimpse into the future; into what is coming. Your word speaks to those days in Revelation with terrifying detail. We know that the world will be rocked and challenged in even greater ways than this. In my mind, it makes me glad that the rapture will take us as your church before the worst of it begins. And who is to know when that day may begin! It may still yet be far off. Yet, these days grant us a glimpse into the future that is yet to come, however near or far away it is. It causes me to pray harder that we proclaim the gospel and see as many as possible rescued from that day.
But in the here and now, how do we cope? Every day I wake wondering…what new twists and turns has this pandemic thrown at us? I wonder, what decisions will be affected today? I wrestle with what decisions to make; where to go, what to do, and how to handle each moment of every day. The eeriness of empty shelves and less populated public spaces scream out from the disquieted silence that they leave in their wake.
And a stirring of fear, anxiety; an unsettling panic worms its way into our hearts and minds. If we bid it welcome, flinging open the doors to embrace it, it would consume us.
And yet, our trust in You, Almighty God (El Shaddai) is stronger than the worm of doubt that would besiege us. Your mighty name, your steadfast love, your ever dependable trustworthiness stays the fleshly panic in our hearts and minds. The ever present words of this Psalm speak peace and stillness into our hearts.
God Is Our Fortress
46 To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with 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 fortress. Selah
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ps 46:title–11). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
What have we to fear, when the words of this passage are so true?
Abba, grant peace to our troubled hearts. Still the stirrings of fear and doubt with the rock and refuge of these truths…you are unchanged. The world…it may be changed. You……Are…..Not! Ever! (Hebrews 13:8).
Whatever may come, let your church, your people be a steadfast rock, unwavering as we cling with JOY and PEACE to the refuge that you are for us. And may we proclaim the glories of your name and shout aloud the praises of your perfection that all the world may hear and believe, You are God.
We love you Abba!
Amen.
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