Daily Devotional

Even though David penned this psalm thousands of years ago, it still hits a responsive chord in all of our lives today.  Life is unpredictable and we need a safe refuge when problems arise.  Through the years I have found the Lord to be that safe place.  I have learned that quietly waiting in God’s presence is essential to have peace of mind during the good as well as the difficult times.

Lynette and I enjoy camping on the coast near the Morro Bay area.  I look forward to these trips, because it is an opportunity to step out of the busyness of life and to sit quietly before the Lord.  We purposefully do not plan a lot of activities for our time on the coast so that we can sit quietly and enjoy the Lord and each other.  God has been doing a lot in our lives recently and big changes are on the horizon.  Whether it is sitting in my favorite chair at the campsite and watching the fire or walking along the beach while watching the waves, it is an opportunity to sit quietly in God’s presence.  David writes, “Let all that I am wait quietly before God.”  His soul waited in silence and found rest in God alone.  God was his complete source of calmness when life was going well or when his world was falling apart. David wrote “wait” not react immediately.  It takes a lot of courage and patience to wait!  It is harder to wait than to get involved in doing something humanly to take care of a situation.  But he tells us to first wait and not try to fix the situation in our own strength.

David goes on to say, “Let all that I am…” I realize that I can’t sit half-heartedly in God’s presence.  Either I am “all in” or I let the distractions of life and the world keep me from enjoying God’s presence.  David further emphasizes this through using the Hebrew word for “only” six times in the psalm.  He knew that God was the “only” source of his salvation and He was his “only” fortress.  Nothing else can substitute.  As a result, he would not be greatly shaken.  David felt at ease like a warrior who is safely in an impregnable fortress.  He knew that in life God was the only fortress that was safe from all enemies.  He could have complete trust in God alone.

Today our world can quickly come unraveled.  All it takes is a phone call that someone we love has passed, the results of a medical test or financial loss.  Any of these things can completely turn our world upside down.  David wants us to experience what he experienced…God’s salvation, safety and rest.  We can only experience this when we fully trust God and wait silently on Him.  We need to rest in the full safety of our God.  Today, in whatever chapter of life we are in, let’s take time to reflect on the reality that God the Father sent his Son to be our only salvation and only source of rest and safety.  Our soul can rest in silence knowing that our Savior is in control and that He holds us in His hand.  Only Christ who lives in us, can give us the strength and courage to face each day and not be greatly shaken.
 
Prayer:
Dear God, thank You for being that safe place I can run to amid life’s problems.  Thank you for the sense of peace and safety you will give me through Jesus Christ, Your Son.  Amen.

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.