Devotion's by Deborah

Devotion 2-3-24, Psalm 46:1, 10a- "God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble...Cease striving and know that I am God ...” Do you find yourself struggling against people and situations? We all do at times. We struggle, think, and speak all without much thought of God's part in the problem. It is our human nature to feel the need to "fix" things ourselves. The psalms are full of examples. The person did or thought such and such; then he turned to God. We get our order backwards, our priorities upside down. We are to turn to God first, always first. It may take repeated practice, but, we may learn the lesson, if we want to learn. The Amplified version of these verses, explaining the intention of the words in the original language, says, "God is our Refuge and Strength [mighty and impenetrable to temptation], a very present and well-proved help in trouble...Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!" Who are you helping by doing things without considering God? No one! You are setting yourself up as more capable than God! It boils down to a modern form of idol worship - of yourself! Do not do it! Turn to God, depend on God, trust God - not yourself. The amazing thought is that God is right where you are, waiting for you to turn fully to Him. He waits for you to recognize and understand that He wants to help; He wants to intervene. He is waiting for you to ask! God, the Creator of everything, waits for you to turn your face, your heart, to Him and depend on Him, not yourself. He waits; because He gave us the freedom to choose, or not choose, Him. He waits, with the arsenal of heaven, ready to intervene, if we will stop trying on our own, and turn to Him. God is abundantly available to help. What are you waiting for?