Prayer is Crying -- Knowing God Hears

Psalm 58:11 (NIV)
 Then men will say, "Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth."
I often find myself saying, "It's just not fair," when I hear about something one of our politicians is up to.  I ask myself how they got into office in the first place and then I wonder why promises made during a campaign are so soon forgotten.  It is human nature to promise the moon to people when we are after something we want so badly.  I can relate to some extent.  There was a time when I would say anything, promise something I knew I would never deliver on, just to get my own way.

This might be one reason it is so difficult to believe God will deliver on His promises sometimes.  We equate our promises with His and don't expect great things.  But, once we open our hearts to what God really wants for us; once we understand He does not operate as we humans do - He is love and justice, honesty and hope all wrapped up in one gift to mankind.  God's justice will be felt by all of us, but the good news is that His love will also be felt and experienced.

Psalm 59:16-17 (NIV) 
 But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God. 

Here are the words refuge and a fortress again.  These words frequently are found in Psalms referring to God.  How many times I have sought shelter in God's presence, used the shelter of His wings as a hideout of sorts.  There is comfort and healing found here.  He is our protector and our defender.

Psalm 60:11-12 (NIV)
 Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless.
 With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies. 

This week let's remember to use God as our hideout when we need to get away from it all.  Find a quiet and cool corner and spend time pondering how mighty is our God.  Give thanks and praise that we can cry out to Him and He hears us.

Psalm 58, 59, 60

Prayer is Laughing - Because you are in His Arms

Psalm 55:22-23 (NIV)
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. ...But as for me, I trust in you.

All three Psalms for today tell of trusting God and of taking refuge in Him. How do we cast our cares on the LORD?  Do we have any responsibility to make things better?  Do these words mean God will get us out of every scrape we get ourselves into?  The verse says that he will sustain us. The dictionary defines sustain as: To keep in existence; maintain; To supply with necessities or nourishment; provide for.

Did you notice that sustain doesn't mean to make it all better?  So what do we do with this information?  Life is a journey and along the way we learn from our mistakes.  God will protect and provide but He will not rescue when we need to learn a lesson.  God will work on our hearts, and our heads - instilling common sense when needed.

Psalm 56:11 (NIV) 
in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?  There will come a time when each of us needs to just simply trust.  There is nothing we can do, only God can help and it is at that time we just fall back and rest in His arms.

Psalm 57:1-2 (NIV)
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills [his purpose] for me. This has always been such a beautiful image for me. A trouble person, beat up by the world, lost and feeling alone...finding safety and shelter in the shadow of God's wings.

This shelter or refuge will look different to each of us.  What do you look for in a refuge?  What gives you comfort and peace? Come, duck under His wings and feel the cool shade surround you.  Breathe in His healing love and bask in the moment.

Psalms 55, 56, 57

Prayer is Whispering -

Psalm 25:4-5, 20 (NIV)
Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. ...Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. 

Remember how, as a child, we would bask in the knowledge that mom and dad were pleased with us? There was something we did that evoked their praise or a special smile and it made us feel good.  So good in fact we wanted to do it again, we wanted to stay in their good graces.  We felt good when they were happy with us.

Isn't it the same with God?  Or is it?  It was for David.  He knew the value of doing God's will.  He also recognized his tendency for sin.  David knew He needed God's help to stay on the right path. Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; Think about how easy it is to do the wrong thing, to follow our basic instincts and do what feels good, not what is good. 

Now, as I get older and perhaps wiser, it is important that I work to stay in God's favor.  Each day just feels better, is more fulfilling and peaceful when I am in God's will.  I know when He is smiling on me and when He isn't.  When things get complicated and life seems unbearable, that is when I call out to God to Guard my life and rescue me.

Reading the Psalms as part of my daily time with God is just like praying.  The things I keep close to my heart, about which I pray for help, I am able to whisper the words...I take refuge in you.

Psalm 24, Psalm 25, Psalm 26

Prayer is Shouting -- Keep me Close LORD

Psalm 16:1 (NIV) Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge. 

The word refuge has a number of meanings, but I see this word as a comforting thing. So many days I seek refuge, I look for a good place to hunker down and regroup. Often I look for a place to think things through, not in a desperate way, nor because of a devastating day, just because I need time to process the events. But that is how I am wired. You may be entirely different. You may seek the company of friends to do your processing.

For some, the time early in the morning, with coffee cup in one hand and The Word of God in the other speaks of refuge. Often I seek out my favorite chair in my quiet corner and begin the day with God. Morning people often take their refuge this way. God is my refuge--therefore I start out armed with the necessary gear and safety apparel, prepared for whatever work He has set aside for me this day.

Psalm 16:11 (NIV)You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. 

When the day is done, a review of events completes the process. Looking over the day, I examine my actions and reactions and determine if it was a good day; if I allowed myself to be used by God in way that glorified Him.  Beginning and ending a day in the presence of God, using Scripture and Prayer on both ends of the day as a hiding place, a refuge, keeps me safe.

Psalm 14, 15, 16

Psalm 18:30-34

I current journal I am using is made from recycled products.  The cover has a rustic feel to it, similar to the feel of thick paper bags.  I found it is perfect because I can design the cover myself.  Each day as I journal I am usually led to a scripture that touches or moves me.  I have started noting those that are so meaningful I want to remember them, and see them often.  So, I have started to write those verses on the cover - front and back - of this book. I find myself drawn to these Words often, and the Holy Spirit has used this practice to get these verses embedded in my memory.  No small feat for sure.

One of the verses which grace the cover is, "As for God, His way is perfect, the Word of the LORD is flawless.  He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him." (Psalm 18:30)  In troubled times these words offer comfort, in stress-filled situations, the Christians can take heart, God has the problem covered.  When we walk through valleys, hide in dark corners or seek comfort for broken relationships, God is our refuge.

What is it that you need refuge from?  Is something breaking your heart or devastating your Spirit and you need refuge?  God is that shelter, He is that peace and comfort.  Sometimes he will even show us a place He wants us to go to so we can find Him.  For instance, my year in Eagle River, WI was just that for me.  It was a place for me to grieve, to find peace and come to grips with my new life.  I was very blessed to have had such a beautiful background for my time.  God blessed me as He drew me closer to Him.  He will do that for you too.

It will probably look and feel different than my respite and I would love to hear about it.  Let's share with one another how God has helped us through difficult seasons, how He has nurtured and nourished weary hearts.


This week I am writing on six of my favorite verses. Each of these verses God used to speak to me in some way during the first five months of this year.  I would love to hear from each of you, about your favorite verses too, and how God used them to show his love in your life.  Feel free to comment below or if you prefer, you can email me here.

Read Psalm 18:30-34 here

Listen to Psalm 18:30-34 here

Isaiah 25:1-9

With this being the anniversary week of the loss of my husband you may expect this week's writings to be a bit melancholy, with words pointing to memories of last year this time for this writer, but not so. God has been working in my heart and has prepared me for this season. The Scripture verses for today are exhilarating and exciting. Is God speaking to you to?

LORD, you are my God;
I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness
you have done wonderful things,
things planned long ago. (Isaiah 25:1)

A close friend of mine told me that she sensed God was moving me to the north woods of Wisconsin because it was to be a refuge for me. For the longest time I felt alone and recognized I needed to draw near to God. I am slowly coming to realize God’s plan is always perfect. Is God nudging you to take up residence in His refuge?

You have been a refuge for the poor,
a refuge for the needy in their distress,
a shelter from the storm
and a shade from the heat. (Isaiah 25:4)

It is a new day and I am prepared now to feast on God’s goodness, His promises and His glory. The time for mourning has passed and God is revealing a bright future for the faithful. I am reminded to ask myself, “Why continue to grieve someone the presence of God? How selfish is that?”

In that day they will say,

“Surely this is our God;
we trusted in him, and he saved us.
This is the LORD, we trusted in him;
let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.” (Isaiah 25:9)

Is God moving you through a dark valley, is life a constant burden? Turn to Him and you will find refuge.
Read the Isaiah 25:1-9 text here.  Listen to an audio reading here.