The Psalms have brought tremendous comfort and guidance to so many for so long. Join me in taking a fresh look at each Psalm. As you read through them, I urge you to reflect, pray, and apply these devotional bits of encouragement to your own life. Today, we study and reflect on Psalms 61, 62, and 63.
Reflection 1
Never forget that Jesus is your Rock and Refuge. He alone is completely reliable and trustworthy. He cares about every detail in your life. Honestly, so much in life is beyond our control, but nothing is beyond God’s control. What has you worried and troubled? What is causing you anxiety and worry? Call to Him. Turn to God. Trust in the Lord. Give Him your concerns and troubles. He not only cares, but is able to meet all your needs.
“Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.” — Psalms 61:1-4
Reflection 2
What would our life look like if we completely and always trusted God? Most of us trust God at times, but not all the time. We trust sometimes but reserve the right to worry, fear, doubt, lose faith, lose hope, and lose our way. You could say it is part is being human. You could also say we need to “become” more faith-filled. More like Jesus who always trusted. Even becoming more like Paul and Peter and the rest of the Bible greats who mostly trusted would be a step in the right direction. We tend to have the “hardening of the categories” where we have the “Jesus part” of our life and the “my part” of my life. We trust when we are stuck but take control when we want to do our own thing. How can you trust God more? Walk in faith more? Obey Him more? Which areas of your life do you need to relinquish control and devote to Christ? Your thoughts? Finances? Disappointments? Resentments? Present fears? Future concerns? Past regrets? Give it all to God. Trust the Lord always and in all things. He is good, wise, loving, and has your best interest at heart. Always.
“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: “Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”; and, “You reward everyone according to what they have done.”” — Psalms 62:1-2, 7-8, 11-12
Reflection 3
What does it mean to you to know that the creator God of the universe is your God? To know that he loves you, cares about you, and knows you by name? You are not a nameless number. You are not lost in the crowd. You are not another pebble on the beach. You consume His focus and attention. To be honest, it blows me away to really think about this. I am so undeserving of His love, but His love is unconditional and His presence constant. His power is always available to you and me. Remember, you mean the world to your Lord and Savior. Let that sink in a little more today.
“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.” — Psalms 63:1-4, 7-8