Daily Worship

The Lord is my safe retreat

Fiona Campbell March 13, 2019 0 1
the_storm_painting_fiona_campbell
Image credit: ‘The Storm’ Fiona Campbell
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Psalm 91: 1-2

1 You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
    who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
2 will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress;
    my God, in whom I trust.’

This psalm is a huge source of courage when we feel knocked about by life.   

Knowing that God will come to our rescue when we face difficulties, gives us the strength to be true to Jesus, even when the storm still surrounds us.

Storms are a normal part of the natural world around us. Hot air rises, cool air falls, winds build up, storms break, and like disagreements in our family or community, they can shake our lives. But they are normal, and so are the challenges of life. When we try to exercise radical love in our dealings with others, they are not always kind to us. We try to do the right thing, and others manipulate or wrong us and we fail in what we hoped to achieve. In difficulties we are reminded that our own strength is just not enough, and asking God for his strength and guidance is what we are supposed to do. Often it’s only in the depths that we truly listen to God’s words to us, and learn how to work with him.      

 

Sheltering God, 
I thank you that I can come into your presence both to rejoice and praise, and to share my pain.
There are times when the Christian life brings me great joy and peace, but other times it is so hard to keep going.   
Help me in the decisions I make today, to draw on the love you give to me, to help me love others.
Help me when things do not turn out as I expected, to call on the Holy Spirit for the right words to say. Remind me that wherever I go, I am never far from your care or cut off from that place of shelter and safe retreat.

Lent Disciplines

WEEK 2: Every day this week spend 5 minutes in silence. Take a moment to still yourself before God and rest. Don't feel any pressure to think about anything in particular and don't worry if you get distracted. Simply breathe in and out and let the thoughts come and go. It may be that after spending five minutes in silence you feel like saying a prayer but it's up to you. Take the time to listen in the silence before carrying on with the rest of your day.