TRUST GOD WITH YOUR LIFE – HE IS YOUR REFUGE AND FORTRESS
Sunday, January 15, 2012
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. 2 I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust! 3 For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. 4 [Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler. Psalms 91:1-4 AMP
There is a secret place that is in the presence of God where his children can find refuge and be safe and secure. It has nothing to do with the circumstances. Even in the middle of chaos and confusion, the presence of God is a haven of peace and protection for those who trust and are confident in Him. We can’t just do nothing and wait for God to come to us – He has already reached out to us and invited us into His presence. We must take that step toward Him – by pressing into His word and believing it! If you believe God’s word to you and you press in to it, then you will find that secret place. If you continue to trust only in Him, then you will come to permanently dwell in that secret place. When you trust in God, you will remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty – not blown about by every wind of adversity. No foe can withstand the power of God! Your confession should be: “The Lord is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I confidently trust!” When I believe and I speak my faith, then God will show Himself strong on my behalf! He will deliver me from traps – whether set by man or the devil. He will deliver me from sickness, disease and disaster.
Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear, revere, and worship You, goodness which You have wrought for those who trust and take refuge in You before the sons of men! 20 In the secret place of Your presence You hide them from the plots of men; You keep them secretly in Your pavilion from the strife of tongues. Psalms 31:19-20 AMP
God is good! You have to trust God; you have to believe in His goodness in order to experience it. In the secret place of His presence He hides you from the plots and plans of men; He protects you from the strife stirred up by other people’s tongues; He protects you from gossip and slander. It’s not that those things won’t try to take you out, but if you continue to trust God and allow Him to fight your battles, you can just keep going and keep doing what He has called you to do. If you stay in His will, He will vindicate you and bring you through the storm.
Unto you, O Lord, do I bring my life. 2 O my God, I trust, lean on, rely on, and am confident in You. Let me not be put to shame or [my hope in You] be disappointed; let not my enemies triumph over me. 3 Yes, let none who trust and wait hopefully and look for You be put to shame or be disappointed; let them be ashamed who forsake the right or deal treacherously without cause. Psalms 25:1-3 AMP
But let all those who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice; let them ever sing and shout for joy, because You make a covering over them and defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You and be in high spirits. 12 For You, Lord, will bless the [uncompromisingly] righteous [him who is upright and in right standing with You]; as with a shield You will surround him with goodwill (pleasure and favor). Psalms 5:11-12 AMP
If we trust in, lean on, rely on, and are confident in the Lord and not the arm of the flesh, then we will not be put to shame or be disappointed. Our enemies will not triumph over us, but they will be ashamed instead. If we are uncompromisingly righteous and if we take refuge and put our trust in the Lord, then we can sing and rejoice and praise Him. He surrounds us with goodwill and favor like a shield.
But the salvation of the [consistently] righteous is of the Lord; He is their Refuge and secure Stronghold in the time of trouble. 40 And the Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they trust and take refuge in Him. Psalms 37:39-40 AMP
I love You fervently and devotedly, O Lord, my Strength. 2 The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my keen and firm Strength in Whom I will trust and take refuge, my Shield, and the Horn of my salvation, my High Tower. 3 I will call upon the Lord, Who is to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies. Psalms 18:1-3 AMP
Then shall my enemies turn back in the day that I cry out; this I know, for God is for me. 10 In God, Whose word I praise, in the Lord, Whose word I praise, 11 In God have I put my trust and confident reliance; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 12 Your vows are upon me, O God; I will render praise to You and give You thank offerings. 13 For You have delivered my life from death, yes, and my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life and of the living. Psalms 56:9-13 AMP
I know that God is for me! If I cry out to Him, He will answer and save me! The Lord is my salvation! He is my Refuge and secure Stronghold in the time of trouble. He is my strength; He is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer; He is my Shield, and the Horn of my salvation, and my High Tower! What can man do to me! He will deliver my life from death and my feet from falling!
As for God, His way is perfect! The word of the Lord is tested and tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him. 31 For who is God except the Lord? Or who is the Rock save our God. Psalms 18:30-31 AMP
Recent:
Righteous Now
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP
“Therefore if any man be in Christ…” What does it mean to be “in Christ”? Galatians 3:27 says, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” You are baptized into Christ when you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” And Romans 10:13 says, “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The moment
Defeating Strife
These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19 AMP
Faith Facts
Faith is persistent
Luke 11:9-10 AMP
So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened.
John 16:24 AMP
Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I AM]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete.
Faith is single-minded
James 1:5-8 AMP
If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. 6 Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the