“Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me, for I take refuge in You. I will seek refuge in the shadow of Your wings until danger passes.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭57:1‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

You are driving down a road when a light rain rages into a storm with thunder, lightning and hail. You can’t see clearly, and it is unsafe to continue driving. What do you do? The prudent person pulls over to seek shelter under a bridge or other covering until the storm passes.

During the storms of life we sometimes need to pull back and seek shelter in God. During these seasons we may have to say “no” to other things that would pull at our energy so that we can let the Holy Spirit refuel us and let Him do battle on our behalf. If you welcome this time of refuge and refreshment you will be recharged and ready for the next adventure that awaits.

Which season is it for you?

The knife came seemingly out of nowhere, cutting you to the quicBetrayal.

Most of us have a story of back-stabbing hidden away in a dark closet in our hearts, a memory too painful to pull out and look at regularly. Perhaps it is one specific, defining slice, or maybe it has been a silent withdrawal of a friendship once held dear.

Jesus knows firsthand your pain. He was betrayed by one of the twelve he hand-picked to be his disciples. Why? Was it worth the day’s wage he received as payment?

According to Luke 22 Satan entered Judas just before he turned his back on our Lord. Greed, selfish-ambition, pride, anger, and pain can drive all kinds of regretful behavior. No matter the cause, isn’t it good to know you are in good company, not alone, enduring this sell-out? He is with you. He took all that suffering to the cross and then rose to overcome it.

Is there a hurt you need to leave at the cross today?

“I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you; I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good. You have delivered me from all my troubles, and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭54:6-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Have you ever felt pressured to donate to a cause?   God wants our gifts to Him given freely in love out of a thankful heart rather than out of debt or obligation. Praise, worship, service, and time are all sacrifices we can offer up to Him who has rescued us again and again on our journeys. What is your motivation for giving? Are you living in gratitude for the greatest gift given you through Christ Jesus?

“God looks down from heaven on the human race to see if there is one who is wise, one who seeks God.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭53:2‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

How does one become wise? People typically seek wisdom and understanding through worldly experiences. There is an assumption that a person who is old must be wise, but age alone does not make a person wise. God’s Word tells us wisdom and understanding can be found in the one who seeks God. To seek God is to read His Word, to meditate on the instruction and pray. The person who does these things has found the path of wisdom. Are you traveling this road?

“Your tongue is like a velvet sledgehammer.”  In her youthful ignorance, the ravishing beauty thought this exhortation was a compliment. Years later she would reflect with regret on her pattern of behavior that led to this slight.

Who hasn’t bragged about a clever insult thrown out to to one-up someone to make them look like less?  In the end, did it make you look like more?

Are you this person?

“Here is the man
who would not make God his refuge,
but trusted in the abundance of his riches,
taking refuge in his destructive behavior.” Ps 52:7

Will you choose instead to be this person through the power of the Holy Spirit?:

“But I am like a flourishing olive tree
in the house of God;
I trust in God’s faithful love forever and ever.
I will praise You forever for what You have done.
In the presence of Your faithful people,
I will put my hope in Your name, for it is good.” Ps 52:8-9

It was a beautiful summer day in northern San Diego, perfect for a lunchtime drive in nearby mountains. The tranquil beauty set the perfect ambiance for reflecting on life, only my own life was not nearly so tranquil as the greenery around me. My own road was pretty rocky with cliffs looming at every turn, leaving me in a state of constant anxiety and not knowing what to do to change it. How did I get here?

I was a “fixer.” I really thought I could change people. My sister recognized this before I did and referred to certain of my relationships as my “projects.” Desperate to be loved, I married one of those on again, off again projects. Red flags were everywhere, but I recklessly ignored them. The unhealthy co-dependence was like a non-union fracture that would not, could not heal and crippled my judgment.

Such was my mangled state of mind while driving against the backdrop of God’s majesty. I couldn’t do it anymore. Why not just drive off that cliff? I could end all my pain quickly…but that would hurt my Mom. (Does she know she was a big part of why I am still here?) And then God! He spoke into me a verse I didn’t even know I knew:

“I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

THAT was what I wanted! I did not want to just exist but to truly live! All at once I finally understood just how much Jesus loved me, and that this was not my problem to fix. That moment set the trajectory for the course of my life. He brought me home to Himself.

What road are you traveling? Are you trying to travel it alone? Are you trying to fix a broken down vehicle but, in truth, you don’t have the tools or know-how? Let the Master Mechanic seal up the cracks and make you whole. Let’s travel this journey together with Him.