Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust” Palm 91:1,2.
A secret place of rest, “yes.” That is what we desire.
Right here, right now, no matter the circumstance, no matter the geography, we can place our heart and mind in a position of praise to the El Elyon-the Most High God.
Paul and Silas were attacked for being servants of the Most High God. They were ordered to be stripped, beaten, and severely flogged and then thrown into prison. (Acts 16:23,24.) These were not happy circumstances for believers in the true and living God.
How can this encourage us? How can this bring rest? Have you heard what happened to Paul and Silas?
These were ordinary men, like you and me, but perhaps not ordinary in their faith and lifestyle: . . . the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”
The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household” Acts 16: 24-31.
Do we dwell in a place of praise? There’s a difference if we do. There’s a difference in our moment to moment response. There’s times of faltering and discouragement, yes, but when we live a lifestyle of faith and worship, as Paul and Silas, we be changed.
The chains break off. The jail is opened. And our witness can be genuine and fruitful. Even if we find ourselves in difficult times.
Can we say, “The Lord is my refuge?”
Psalm 91 feeds new courage and hope within our souls:
If we make the Most High our dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.
But that doesn’t mean the trials won’t come. Paul and Silas were beaten and put in jail.
What it does mean is, we call on the Most High God and praise Him for His Love, and He changes things.
How do we have a lifestyle of praise? We must fight our battles with faith in our heart. Faith comes by reading (aloud) God’s living Word.
Today, right now, I mean what I say, for you and me both, every day, we must read aloud, straight from His Word.
Ask Jesus in. Ask the Spirit to minister deep within.
Like a musician who plays, we will read what His Word says:
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?a
Has it not been toldb you from the beginning
Have you not understoodd since the earth was founded?e
He sits enthronedfabove the circle of the earth,
and its people are like grasshoppers.g
He stretches out the heavensh like a canopy,i
and spreads them out like a tentj to live in.k
He brings princes to naught
and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.m
No sooner are they planted,
no sooner are they sown,
no sooner do they take rootn in the ground,
then he blowso on them and they wither,p
and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.q
“To whom will you compare me?r
Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.s
Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:t
Who createdu all these?
He who brings out the starry hostv one by one
and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,w
not one of them is missing.x
Why do you complain, Jacob?
Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord;
my cause is disregarded by my God”? Do you not know?
Have you not heard?z
The Lord is the everlastinga God,
the Creatorb of the ends of the earth.c
He will not grow tired or weary,d
and his understanding no one can fathom.e He gives strengthf to the wearyg
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young menh stumble and fall;i
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.k
They will soar on wings like eagles;l
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:21-31.
God’s ministering Spirit. God’s precious Word. All glorious.
If you don’t know Jesus, He’s a prayer away.
After you’ve asked Him to come in, receive forgiveness and grace, and he will give you the power to offer it to all that you meet.
He is God. He is able to help our souls soar on wings like eagles where ever our bodies might be.
Amen. Please tell someone if you’ve received Jesus for the first time.
Angels rejoice in heaven.
And your soul receives . . . rest.
