Psalm 46
Today is the first day of a mini devotional series I am doing on the Psalms. Starting today, and for the next five days, we are going to dive into some of the Psalms. I pray these would be just as encouraging for you as they are for me.
Take a moment to read this Psalm… meditate, journal, and reflect.
Psalm 46
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
I love this Psalm, because I feel so protected and secure when I read it. It brings me to a place of complete trust and submission to God’s will, because it reminds my forgetful and worrisome self, that He is God and I am not. He is my refuge and my strength. He is Lord over all things. He goes before and behind me (“It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8).
Though we are all walking through many different challenges and obstacles, God is not a passive God. He is a “very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). This means that when the righteous cry out to Him for help, He hears and delivers them. It means that He is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:17-18). Where He is present, there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11).
So, what are we supposed to do as we navigate this time of uncertainty, in light of the Psalm we just read? How do we respond to panic in the midst of a pandemic? What do we do when the oceans roar, the earth gives way, and the nations roar? What happens when circumstances are completely out of our control?
If we look at verse 10, we see our answer. We are to be still and know that He is God. God is God. Take a deep breath and let that hit you, as you quiet and still your mind. He will be exalted among the nations and in the earth. Our response is to stop, pray, and ask for help—He will do the rest. We are to put our full trust and faith in Him, our Mighty Fortress. We are to pray for mercy over this situation. We are to remember He is The Lord of hosts (armies). He is The Lord over the government. He is The Lord over the earth. He is The Lord over Coronavirus.
We can rest assured, with confidence, that the same God exalted in all the earth is with us, leading us through the fiercest battles. There is nothing else we could possibly need.
Reflection Question: What keeps you from being still and knowing that He is God? Is it fear, anxiety, busyness, distractions, stress, etc.?
Spend some time in prayer. Ask Him to help you be still and trust Him through uncertainty and fear. Ask Him to give you more of Himself.
Today’s Worship Song: Psalm 46 (Lord of Hosts) — Shane & Shane
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lH2IJEY1sY
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6obkbpih6pYSgjPyoI75Xp?si=CEGLVj1fTgujzK5abJlLeQ
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/psalm-46-lord-of-hosts/1049951699?i=1049952246
If you have any Psalms you would like me to write about during this mini series, please send them my way! My email is: blrich1399@gmail.com
With love,
Brooke
