Know Peace…

 Now it happened, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, “Is it peace, Jehu?”

So he answered, “What peace, as long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft are so many?”—2 Kings 9:22

I stopped here in my reading today in 2 Kings. Truly, there is no peace when sin abounds and the wicked rule.  

I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.—Isaiah 57:19–21

This is not only true for the wicked but even the heart of a believer can churn and become troubled.  One of the reasons for this could be that we have unconfessed sin in our lives. Beloved, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy and peace.  The cure for a lack of peace is to keep a short account of our sin by confessing them to our God.  1 John 1 says this:  The emphasis placed on verse 9 is mine. 

5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.—1 John 1:5-9: 2:1-2

Beloved…I so desire this fellowship with God that 1 John speaks to, but ironically even now as I write this I can feel an unrest in my spirit. My flesh wants to finish this devotional so I can get to the “rest” of my day.  This is not an attitude that reflects a surrendered heart. My time is in the hands of my God.  He will make my way straight and redeem my time. He will perfect that which concerns me. God doesn’t care if I write a devotional. He wants ME…He wants MY HEART.  In obedience then I will bring my double-minded and faithless heart to Him and confess my sin to the One who is filled with mercy and grace and desires only good for me.  

Keep your heart with all diligence,

For out of it spring the issues of life.—Proverbs 4:23

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.—Jude 20-21

Lessons from a Canine…

 The name of the LORD is a strong tower;

The righteous run to it and are safe.—Proverbs 18:10

Yes, in the way of Your judgments,

O LORD, we have waited for You;

The desire of our soul is for Your name

And for the remembrance of You.—Isaiah 26:8

I have an 8 pound poodle who is always on high alert.  Today as I read these verses I realized that for him, I am his strong tower.  His eyes seek my comfort and my direction when he is scared.  He barks and I (most times) tell him quietly that it is okay…that there is no need for fear or alarm. I direct him to his spot near where I sit and he settles…until the next time. Sometimes comforting him requires more than words.  Sometimes, like when there is a buzzing insect in the house, nothing short of my lap will do. 

Buzzing insects, you say?  Wolf (yes, lots of irony in that name) is petrified of buzzing insects. If there is one in the house, he literally shakes in fear.  In his fear and trembling, he does whatever he can to hide and protect himself from the infernal buzzing.  My lap becomes his goal. Once there, his trembling slowly begins to ease and lessen. For the next few hours, Wolf becomes my shadow.  He, as the Bible puts it, follows hard after me.  He keeps me in his sights. We, as humans, can learn a lot from dogs. 

Beloved….Praying today that each of us, when our hearts begin to fear and even sink within us, that we flee to You and hold tight. You, Jesus, are the anchor of our souls. You are where our heart finds strong encouragement and our inner man is strengthened. You will not allow our feet to slip or our grip to break down no matter what pressure is brought to bear on it. Today, then, we will come (we will run) to You with our anxieties and fears.  You will keep us safe from peril. Isaiah 25:4-5 is perfect here.

4 For You have been a strength to the poor,

A strength to the needy in his distress,

A refuge from the storm,

A shade from the heat;

For the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

5 You will reduce the noise of aliens,

As heat in a dry place;

As heat in the shadow of a cloud,

The song of the terrible ones will be diminished.—Isaiah 25:4-5

The LORD your God in your midst,

The Mighty One, will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing."—Zephaniah 3:17

The eternal God is your refuge,

And underneath are the everlasting arms;

He will thrust out the enemy from before you,

And will say, ‘Destroy!’—Deuteronomy 33:27

God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear,

Even though the earth be removed,

And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,

Though the mountains shake with its swelling.

Selah—Psalm 46:1-3

But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;

Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;

Let those also who love Your name

Be joyful in You.

12 For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous;

With favor You will surround him as with a shield.—Psalm 5:11-12

Beautiful Pictures of Faith and Kindness in 2 Kings 4

There is so much in the first part of 2 Kings 4...I just want to read and reread it and pray that I can take a page so to speak out of both these women’s books.

Elisha and the Widow’s Oil...

Lord...I want to trust You when my faith is tested.  I want to cry out as this woman did and bring my need to You knowing that You will regard my prayer.   You heard the cry of this woman’s heart who was widowed, destitute and oppressed.  Your power multiplied “little” into “much,” filling all the vessels she had gathered to meet her need.

Elisha and the Shunammite Woman...

I have written Shunammite woman before but I can’t help it...I have got to write again.  Every time I read this section of 2 Kings my heart longs to be as this woman was...kind, others-centered and content.  I love thinking at how her contented spirit flowed from her outward focus and kindness to others.  Her mind was not on herself and what she didn’t have it was on others and what they needed.

Lord...I want to show concern and kindness to others like the Shunammite woman from 2 Kings 4.  Oh to have spiritual eyes to see a need among Your people and pray for You to use me to fill it.   

I love her answer to Elisha when he asked what he could do for her in return for her care and concern for him.  “I dwell among my own people”, she replied.  She WAS content!  She wanted nothing!   We read in verse 14 that her husband was old and that they were childless.  She suffered the stigma of barrenness and her husband might die without an heir to carry on his name and yet she asked for nothing!   Her God knew her need, though, and filled the longing in her heart and gave her what money could not purchase...a son.   

Oh, Father, work in me a contented spirit that trusts in Your kindness and provision and that looks to bless others.

As the Lord Liveth, and as thy Soul Liveth, I will not Leave Thee…

 2 Kings 2

This chapter fascinated me.  The ministry of Elijah was coming to an end and he was getting ready to pass his mantle on to his younger protégée, Elisha. On the day that this would happen Elijah takes Elisha to four different cities. Their starting point was Gilgal. First off, I loved that no matter how Elijah and even the prophets of the day tried to dissuade Elisha from following Elijah on to each different city, Elisha’s reply was always the same…

As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.

Praying that the Lord would grant me this same tenacious spirit that no matter my circumstance I would not look to the left or to the right but up and unto my God. Oh, Father, by Your Spirit may my heart always abide, obey and follow hard after You.  

I was also curious as to why God chose those particular cities to bring both Elijah and Elisha through on that last day.  I went back to each one in my Bible and was blessed as I read the stories associated with them and the lessons learned.  Verse one of 2 Kings 2 says this…

And it came to pass, when the LORD was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 

Gilgal - After 40 years of wandering this was the first place the Israelites stopped after crossing over into the Promise land.  It was where the generation that had not been circumcised were circumcised. 

Rend your heart and not your garment…

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.—Romans 2:28-29

Beloved…the Lord our God wants our hearts. To obey is better than sacrifice. He is 

near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart. These He will not despise

And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.—2 Kings 2:2a

The next stop was Bethel which is translated the house of God. It is where Jacob saw in a dream the angels of God ascending and descending on a heavenly ladder. It was where God promised him that He would be with him wherever he went. When Jacob woke up he said this:

16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it." 17 And he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!"Genesis 28 (emphasis mine)

No matter our circumstance…no matter where we find ourselves we, as believers, are in Christ.  He will never leave us or forsake us. He will complete the good work He began in us.  He will see us through this life and as we take our last breath here, His eternal arms will bear us up to be with Him forever. 

And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.—2 Kings 2:4

The third city Elijah stopped in was Jericho whose walls were high and seemingly impregnable. Here, the Lord fought for His people using their obedience to bring about victory. We are not sufficient for anything we face, but the Spirit of God who dwells in us IS. It is He who fights for us. Beloved…Go in His strength. The battles are always His, not Yours. 

And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.-2 Kings 2:6

The final destination for Elijah and Elisha before Elijah was translated and Elisha would pick up his mantle was the Jordan River. The Jordan is where the priests took that step of faith into the waters of the Jericho River and as they did the waters were parted and dry land appeared. 

We walk by faith through this life…not by sight. We, as believers, are to be directed, guided and empowered by His Spirit. We are to depend on Him and not ourselves. Step by precious step. 

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. 

Father, I am so thankful for Your word to us and the great cloud of witnesses that have gone before us. Thank you for their testimony.  Thank you most of all for Your Son and the gift of His Spirit who dwells in our hearts. 

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart..—Hebrews 4:12

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.—Hebrews 4:14-16

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.—Hebrews 12:1-2

On Being Discontented…

Then the king of Israel said to him, "So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it." And he hastened to take the bandage away from his eyes; and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. 42 Then he said to him, "Thus says the LORD: Because you have let slip out of your hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.'" So the king of Israel went to his house sullen and displeased, and came to Samaria.—1 Kings 20:40-43

And it came to pass after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, "Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near, next to my house; and for it I will give you a vineyard better than it. Or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money." But Naboth said to Ahab, "The LORD forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you! "So Ahab went into his house sullen and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." And he lay down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no food.—1 Kings 21:1-4

Ahab wanted what Ahab wanted. He did not want what God wanted.  When Ahab’s will was thwarted he became sullen and displeased.  His discontented heart affected not only Ahab but everyone around him.  If there was one sin in my life that I could wish would be gone forever it would be this one...discontent. Why?  Because it says that God is not good and is not enough. Because it is ugly.  It steals my joy...it steals the moment by blinding me to its preciousness and beauty...it sucks the joy from those around me also because in my discontent, I can make their lives miserable.  Matthew Henry says that discontent does not rise from a condition or circumstance but from our own minds.  I find this to be so very true.  He reminds us that Paul was content in a prison but Ahab was discontented in a palace. 

When I desire something that is not what God currently has for me it causes me to fret. Fretting, the Bible says in Psalm 37, ONLY causes harm.  This is exactly what discontent with my current lot from the Lord does for me. It causes me and those around me harm. I become vexed in my spirit with all manners of annoyances and irritations.  Like Ahab, I become sullen and displeased because God, in His grace and mercy toward me, loves me too much to give me my wrong desires.  Instead of accepting what He has for me and looking forward to how He might use it to transform my heart, I rail against it.  Instead of praying through it and asking God to show me His purposes in it, I become hardened, prideful and feel entitled. I forget that what I am truly entitled to is death and eternal punishment.  I forget that my God has pulled me up out of the miry clay.  I forget that I have been crucified with Christ and that the life I live now, I live unto Him who rescued me and redeemed my life and my very soul from destruction.  

The verse that I use to counter my wrong desires and wrong thinking is this very familiar one...

Psalm 23:1 (NLT) A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

Psalm 23:1 (CSB) The LORD is my shepherd; I have what I need.

Psalm 23:1 (NIV) A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

The Becoming One...the great I AM is my Shepherd and He lives in me!  I lack nothing!  I CAN be content because He is my shield and my exceedingly great reward.  I dwell at ease when my heart by His Spirit, commits its cause to God.  So much effort and energy goes into fighting for my way...energy that could be expended in His Spirit for His cause.  God’s people do not have to worry about themselves. They can focus on others because, as Spurgeon says,  God cares for their “estate.” 

Beloved, let Him do His perfect work in your life and in your heart.  Allow Him full sway.  Live in continual dependence upon your God and His grace.  Find your satisfaction in Him and dwell in ease and fullness of joy.  

The LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. 

Oh Father, how very blessed is the man who puts His trusts in You!

Sweet Words of Comfort and Truth from John 14 and 16…

 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you.

18 "I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, bereaved, and helpless]; I will come [back] to you.—John 14:16-18 (Amplified)

"But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?' 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts [and taken complete possession of them]. 7 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you].—John 16:5-7 (Amplified)

For this heart there are not very many sweeter words than these words of John 14 and John 16?  He has not left us orphans. He has sent us (believers) His Spirit to dwell in our hearts.  The Spirit of God makes His home with us.  He will never leave us nor forsake us.  

The word translated “Helper” in English is apparently so rich a word that it requires several English words to do it justice and capture its meaning. The Holy Spirit who lives in me and is always with me is my Helper, my Comforter, my Advocate, my Intercessor, my Counselor, my Strengthener and finally my Standby!

Our God is compassionate, kind and gracious and always meets us at our point of need.  He is the Great I Am, the Becoming One who becomes for us whatever our need may be.  He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 

Beloved, God’s Holy Spirit is with us who believe for every step of our journey here on earth.  He is our constant companion to whom we can resort continually. Rely on Him and revel in His love and care. 

28 For You will light my lamp;

The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.

29 For by You I can run against a troop,

By my God I can leap over a wall.

30 As for God, His way is perfect;

The word of the LORD is proven;

He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

31 For who is God, except the LORD?

And who is a rock, except our God?

32 It is God who arms me with strength,

And makes my way perfect.

33 He makes my feet like the feet of deer,

And sets me on my high places.

34 He teaches my hands to make war,

So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;

Your right hand has held me up,

Your gentleness has made me great.

36 You enlarged my path under me,

So my feet did not slip.—Psalms 18:28-36

A Lightened Countenance…

29 But I am poor and sorrowful;

Let Your salvation, O God, set me up on high.

30 I will praise the name of God with a song,

And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.—Psalm 69:29-30

I want to imitate David here!  Oh Lord, when my day is darkened and trouble surrounds me, help me, by Your Spirit, to do as the Psalmist does here:

I will praise the name of God with a song,

And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.

Praising God brings perspective and shifts our focus off of our circumstances and onto our Father in Heaven. Psalm 50 tells us that when we do this, we order our conduct aright.  We put God in His rightful place…at the very center of our hearts and our lives.  When we sing and give God thanksgiving, our life and our circumstances are brought into focus.  Our countenances are lightened….and not only ours but those around us as well. Jesus becomes high and lifted up.  Our troubles lose their sharp edges and, as a result, their ability to cut and affect us viscerally.

God is good all the time...His thoughts toward us are thoughts of peace and not of evil…to give us a future and a hope. He makes His goodness follow us and covers our missteps with mercy.  May His praise then, be continually on our lips as we go through our day. By His Spirit, let us praise Him despite our own fleshly inclinations to complain.  Let us purpose in our heart to praise Him especially during those times when it is the last thing that we want to do.  Oh Father, our feelings are so fickle. Help us to walk with You by faith according to the promises in Your word, not according to the state of our emotions. 

Raise your hands and praise the One who has been so faithful in the past, whom you know is working in the present and who will not turn aside but will complete the good work He started in you.  Beloved, at that very moment we begin to praise, even the night will light about us. 

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.—2 Corinthians 3:18

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.—2 Corinthians 4:5-6

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.

13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.—2 Corinthians 4:7-15

Loving to Perfection…

 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.  (emphasis mine)—John 13:1

John MacArthur says "He loved them to the end" means literally, He loved them to perfection...fervently...to the limits of love.  Oh Father, my love falls so very far short of the standards that you have not only laid out for me but also modeled for me!  This is how I want to love those you have placed in my life...to perfection!  Help me to love as You do.  Your love is NOT of me...Love is OF You.  We love, because You first loved us.  My love cannot love my enemies and do good to those who spitefully use me.  My love cannot love those who say all kinds of evil against me.  My love can only love me...my love is selfish and always seeks its own.  Your love is sacrificial...it is good and gracious to all!  You send rain on the evil and the good.  Your love was demonstrated toward me when I was still Your enemy.  When I was helpless, hopeless and against You, You died for me!  I cannot generate this kind of love on my own...it is a gift from You.  Your love sacrificed Your Son and made a way in the darkness for me.  Your love endured the cross and paid the price for my redemption.  

I surrender to You, Father and I invite Your Spirit to take control,  govern my heart and produce the fruits of righteousness to Your praise and glory!  Ministry apart from Your Spirit is empty, vain and meaningless.  Guard and clothe all my words, thoughts and actions with Your love.  Your goodness...Your active love toward me is what led me to repentance.  Help me to demonstrate that kind of love to those You place in my life.  

Let all I do be done in love!!

Now My Soul is Troubled…

“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.—John 12:27

I felt totally inadequate to write on this verse this morning because in it I identified and saw Jesus in His humanity and was concerned that my focus there would somehow detract from the fact that He was also fully God.  Plowing ahead with the help of some commentators. 

Christ dreaded the suffering that He knew was coming upon Him because of our sin. His soul was troubled. John MacArthur says that the term for trouble used here is strong and indicates horror, anxiety and agitation. Jesus’ contemplation of taking on the wrath of God for the sins of everyone who would believe caused revulsion in the sinless Savior 

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.—2 Corinthians 5:21

Matthew Henry aptly says His soul was troubled in order to ease the trouble of our own souls. I love that. 

What does Jesus do in His trouble?  (His horror, anxiety and agitation). He brings His heart to God.  He prays to His Father in Heaven and asks to be saved from this hour.  I love what Jesus says next because I have prayed similarly and it is almost like we answer our own question.  

‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.  

“Hold on”, says Jesus. “This is why I came.” Ever been there?  You are in the middle of being brutally honest with God in prayer and even as you are speaking you are reminded of your purpose and your calling.  You remember that you are here to do the will of Your Father in Heaven.  It is your desire that He be glorified.  The beautiful words of Isaiah 53 come to mind…

When You make His soul an offering for sin,

He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,

And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.

11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.

By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,

For He shall bear their iniquities.

Your inner man is strengthened and the muddied waters become clear once again.  Matthew Henry says innocent nature got the first word but divine wisdom and love got the last.  Beloved, weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning. 

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.—Hebrews12:1-2

5 My soul, wait silently for God alone,

For my expectation is from Him.

6 He only is my rock and my salvation;

He is my defense;

I shall not be moved.

7 In God is my salvation and my glory;

The rock of my strength,

And my refuge, is in God.

8 Trust in Him at all times, you people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us.

Selah—Psalm 62:5-8

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of [those] whose heart [is] loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”— 2 Chronicles 16:9