Passage of the Day:
How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them from all human intrigues; you keep them safe in your dwelling from accusing tongues.21 Praise be to the Lord, for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege.22 In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your sight!” Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help. 23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full. 24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord, Psalm 31:19-24.
Reflection:
As a former shepherd, David was forced to rely on the Lord when grass pastures dried up or when predators sought to devour one of his sheep. Another Psalm of David reveals his degree of hope, Psalm 18:33, trusting in the Lord with each step taken so that not even his ankles are twisted by the rocky terrain. As I still try to recover from the aftermath of Helene, I will not treat God any longer like a light switch that I turn on and off. Not having power for almost a week has taught me to trust God in the dark of night. This is what it means to place your hope in God.
Prayerful Action:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight, Proverbs 3:5-6.
Clinging to a Glimmer of Hope this Fall:
Taking shelter has a new meaning for me, running down the stairs to hide in our basement before Tropical Storm Helene passed. Rather than move to a secure location, David writes about taking spiritual shelter from life by placing your hope in God. Perhaps, David is referring to the time when he was forced to take shelter in the Cave Of Adullam, 1 Samuel 22, as King Saul sought to take David’s life. Whatever truly inspired the words of Psalm 31, don’t forget to take shelter in God this fall when future storms catch you off guard.
Song of the Day:
Final Thoughts:
One of the illustrations in the Old Testament compares God to the anchor of our faith. Therefore, whenever storms and trials enter your life, remember that God’s anchor still holds.
by Jay Mankus
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