“God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble” PS 46:1

God IS…
It struck me as I was reading this the other day that God IS… it does not say that God “was”… it says…. God “IS”.   God is not past tense. He is with us today, just as He was with Adam, Moses, Abraham, and Isaac… all the saints that have gone before us. He is present and available to you and me just as He always has been throughout all eternity.  It continues to boggle the mind that the same God that walked with Adam in the cool of the evening in the Garden (Genesis 3:8), is that same God that “IS” today.

 God IS our REFUGE…
He is our safe place, hiding place, our shelter from danger, our shelter from the storms. He is our safe haven, our sanctuary. I found this definition interesting… a place to flee Back To. Interesting… “Back To” suggests that I’ve been there before and I can go there if I need???

God IS our REFUGE and STRENGTH…
Strength is not just physical power. It is also defined as courage, authority and influence. It is the inherent capacity to endure. It is also a stronghold or fortress. I know that everything is under Him; He has authority over all. I know that nothing can hurt me, attack me, or remove me from the REFUGE I seek in Him. He is our stronghold … our fortress.

God IS our REFUGE and STRENGTH, an EVER-PRESENT…
Present is defined as here and now, current, at-hand. Ever-Present… Always here and now… always current… always at-hand. He is never away from us. We never have to fear that He is not watching over us. 

God IS our REFUGE and STRENGTH, an EVER–PRESENT HELP …
Help is defined as assistance, aid, help by sharing the burden, to make something less burdensome, to render assistance. But here is the definition of our God… Help – to Save – to Rescue.

God IS our REFUGE and STRENGTH, an EVER–PRESENT HELP IN trouble…
What strikes me about these last two words… it doesn’t say… IF you get in trouble – it says… IN trouble. How amazing is it that our God, in His infinite wisdom, knows His children. He knows that, from time to time, we will venture out there on our own. We will leave that safe REFUGE and in our own STRENGTH we will try to accomplish this life ourselves.

But as the EVER-PRESENT, ever-watchful Father, He sees what His children our doing.   He sees when we have gotten in over our heads. And still He is waiting right there. He is waiting for us. He wants us to find SHELTER and REFUGE in Him. No matter what we’ve done, He will never turn away from us.

Thoughts To Ponder: We all make mistakes… some of us make “bigger” mistakes than others. And I have made some doozies! But if there is one thing I’ve learned… it is not too late to make it right… or perhaps make it right – again.   It doesn’t matter what it is. It is not too late to be forgiven for every mistake that you have ever made. God is waiting for you. He is waiting for you to seek Him.   And know that when you seek Him, He will be there – EVER-PRESENT, just for you. He longs to be your refuge. He longs to be your strength. Seek Him now. 

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Do you know Him? Have you invited His Son Jesus into your heart? Have you given your life to HIM? If you haven’t, I would encourage you to do that now. Take the time right now… https://titus345.com/do-you-know-jesus/

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Prayer:

Father God… thank you. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for being that place that I can run to when I feel like life has run me over. Thank you for being my strength when I am too weak to even pray. Lord, You are everything to me. You are my strength, my portion, my shield, my deliverer, my helper, and my refuge. You Are My All.

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Sometimes
Written by Ann Cuddy
March 16, 2007

Sometimes this world has my heart in a mess
So many fears and worries, with no place to rest.

I want to lie down for just a few hours,
And turn the raging storms into soft gentle showers.

It seems there’s no place I can run or can hide
I feel I’m alone with none by my side.

He says give me your burdens and your tired aching heart,
I’ll carry them for you; I’ve said that from the start.

Your worries, your pain, your sadness, your fear
Bring them my child; I’m ever so near.

Know My joy, know My peace, know My love, know My grace,
In the shelter of My arms is your saving place. 

Know that I love you, know that you’re Mine,
I knew every minute of your life before time.

Now rejoice in Me that you’ve laid it all down,
Well done My child; one day you’ll have your crown.