Saturday, October 26
Day 13
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord; He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. – Psalm 91:1-2
God Protects
Ever since the fall of Adam and Eve, humanity has lived in a broken and evil world, where safety isn’t guaranteed. However, we can find countless examples in the Bible and in our own lives of God showing up to provide safety and protection of His people. In the Old Testament, God parted the Red Sea for the Israelites so they could escape from the Egyptian army (Exodus 14). In the New Testament, God helped Peter escape from prison by causing his chains literally to fall off him (Acts 12).
In these examples, God protected His people from immediate harm, but the most important thing we see in each of these situations is that God was with them. God doesn’t promise we will not go through hard times. However, what we do see is that when God’s people choose to dwell in Him, He promises to be their refuge and fortress.
I personally had to put my hope in this promise when my daughter was admitted to the NICU. I was scared and anxious, so I sent out many prayer requests to my family and friends. I almost immediately started to feel peace from the prayers of others, which continued throughout her week-long stay in the hospital. Even though my circumstances were difficult, I knew God was with me. Each day I continually had to go before God to ask Him to be my dwelling place. It was then that God became my refuge and fortress.
Prayer:
God, thank you for being our dwelling place—a place where we can seek refuge. Thank you for continually being with us no matter the turmoil and chaos that may surround us. When we go through difficult times, remind us to seek Jesus. Remind us to find our dwelling places not in the securities and promises of the world, but to find our refuge and fortress in you alone, Jesus.
Pray For Our Church: Take some time to pray for Pathway today—the people who make up our church, the staff, the ministries, etc. Ask God to work in and through us.
Pray For Our City: Pray for the people of our community and ask God to be at work in our hometown.
Pray For Our Nation: Pray for our nation—its people and its leaders. Boldly and specifically make your requests, then submit those desires to God’s will. Express your trust in Him.
Reflect:
- How have you seen God’s faithfulness and his promises lived out today?
- Write 2-3 points of gratitude and thank Jesus for these things.
- Spend time praising God for who he is, what he has done, where he is at work, and what he has promised.
By Jaylin Miller
Jaylin and his wife, Amanda, have been attending Pathway for five years. They have three kids: Elsie, Sam, and Isla. Jaylin and Amanda both serve in IMPULSE, Pathway’s Middle School Ministry.