Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
3/25/2022
What choices have you made to make God your refuge?
We asked that question last night at a Couples group we attend and answers were a little slow coming in. How would you answer that?
Would you pause a moment to consider your response?
It is a purposeful thought. Your answer or non-answer is critical for one who is assessing their walk with God. It speaks of what filter one uses and the actual rock they think they are standing on. Sometimes our faith can be more grounded in our parent's faith than in our own. That is dangerous because, in times of trouble, we must personally know about God as our refuge and not just the Being we hope will answer our prayers.
One thing we cannot do is look for just emotional experiences, from a worship service to measure God as being our refuge. He is more than a feeling. Our refuge is a PERSON, living God, active and alive, and his word is clear that he wants you to find refuge in more than the emotions of a moment here or there.
Can we look at the definition of refuge: 1: shelter or protection from danger or distress. 2: a place that provides shelter or protection.
How is God practically our refuge in times of trouble? Psalm 139:4 says “Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it all.” God reveals himself to us in prayer as we pour out our hearts to him in sincere conversations that we might hide from others. God is not just the guy up there but is a person we can confide in
Prayer is how God reveals to us what is in our hearts. When we talk to Him in honest conversation, we expose what we’re really thinking, what we might hide from the rest of the world.
Have you considered that God’s Word is a Place of Protection and Safety, A REFUGE, when we meet the rocky roads of life? What should one do? We don’t want the wisdom of the world but from God himself. We want more than knowledge to decide the path and decisions we need to make, we want wisdom. What would God do? His word provides answers to every problem. EVERY! His word is a place of safety and protection from every fear, every thought, and every calamity.
Psalm 62:8 – “Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your hearts before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah”
Psalm 73:28 – “But as for me, the nearness of God is good for me; I have made the Lord God my refuge, So that I may tell of all Your works.”
Psalm 91:1-2 – “One who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will lodge in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!’”
We must learn to trust that doing what God says is always best, even when the world or culture says it’s foolish.
Proverbs 30:5 – “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”
In every scripture above you will find God’s Spirit provides the power to sustain us through our troubles. Isn’t he also a refuge? Jesus said when he left he would send a comforter, a teacher, a very present help in times of trouble. John 14:25-26 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you".
Jesus knew we would need the power of the Holy Spirit to help us; He promised the disciples A refuge to enable and strengthen us during the impossible times that would come.
John 14:16-17 – “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you.”
While we can’t physically run to the refuge of a storm shelter in our basement, we actually have something more. We have God’s presence, God has provided a way that He is physically with us, through the indwelling Spirit of God, who comes to live in every true Christ-follower at the moment of salvation. As we learn to confide in the Father and commit to obey the Word of God (Jesus), we are empowered (strengthened) by the Spirit of God.
Let’s look at our key verse again. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). The word “very” means exceedingly, greatly, up to abundance, to a great degree. “Strength” means might and power, and “help” means one who helps, or comes to the aid of. The Spirit of God is present; He is with us, providing the abundant power we need in our moment of trouble. That my friend is the ultimate Refuge!
