Daily Devotional for July 26, 2007

Proverbs 18
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
(Scripture taken from the King James Version, 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States. To read this passage from The Message, go to www.biblegateway.com and do a passage lookup.)

”The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Isn’t that a beautiful verse? Doesn’t that make you feel good to know that God is our “strong tower” – a “safe place” we can run to and be welcomed?

In the first part of Psalm 32:7, we read “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble…”. Do you remember having a hiding place when you were a child - a place you could go and be still and quiet and away from the world and feel safe? For me, that was a spot across the road from my grandparents’ house. They lived “out in the country” on a dirt road, and across it from their house was a pretty substantial creek. On the bank above that creek was an embankment covered in soft, deep green moss and surrounded by pine trees. I would dash across the road and jump over the creek to climb this embankment and sit in the moss.

To this day, I can still feel the safety and sanctitude of that place when I hear wind whisper through pine trees. It takes me back every time. I am seven years old, sitting in the moss, looking at my grandparents’ house, knowing that “home” is only a few yards away, yet feeling like I am hidden from the rest of the world. I am in my own little “hiding place” and it is peaceful, calm, secure, and even holy.

The GOOD NEWS is that, in Jesus Christ, we each have a “hiding place.” He is waiting to give us peace, security, calmness, and holiness. He is available at any time to be our soft place to rest and to preserve us from trouble. Verse 16 speaks of the power of a gift to open doors for us with others. But with Christ, no gift is necessary. HE is the giver, not us. He does not need our bribe or flattery in order to love us and provide for us.

So what about you? Is the Lord your tower of safety and refuge? Does He provide you with a hiding place of mossy banks and whispering pines? He can, you know… all you have to do is ask. He is waiting for you… what are YOU waiting for?

©2007 Debbie Robus