September 24 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Psalm 46:

¹God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
²Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
³Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
⁴There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
⁵God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
⁶The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
⁷The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
⁸Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
⁹He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
¹⁰Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
¹¹The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Devotional

As Christians we are exposed to all kinds of dangers. We are surrounded by fierce and strong enemies. There are the wiles of the devil, who, "as a roaring lion, walketh about, seek­ing whom he may devour." There is the hatred of the world. There is the weakness of our flesh. Therefore, it behooves us to watch and pray, to take unto us the whole armor of God; and above all, to take our refuge in God, who is our Refuge and Strength. "The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge." How emphatically the psalmist expresses this idea in another place! "I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." Solomon says, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." The enemies cannot reach him.

If the Lord is all this for us, what is required on our part? Not self-confidence, not reliance on our own strength, not trust in any thing that we have or are; but faith. Paul writes: "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked" (or the evil one). Peter says, "Whom resist steadfast in the faith." Also James says, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." John says triumphantly, "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." Is that faith ours?

Prayer

O God our Father, be Thou our refuge and strength. Grant us a childlike faith, to take Thee at Thy word. May we be enabled by Thy grace, in all circumstances of life, to put our trust in Thee. Grant us the victory over all our enemies, through him that loved us and gave himself for us. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: 2 Pet. 5:3; John 15:19; Gal. 5:17; Matt. 26:1; Eph. 6:13; Ps. 46:1, 7; 18:1, 2; Prov. 18:10; Eph. 6:16; 1 Pet. 5:9; James 4:7; 1 John 5:4.

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