Tuesday Devo
Scripture:
Psalm 46
For the choir director: A song of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!
4 A river brings joy to the city of our God,
the sacred home of the Most High.
5 God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
From the very break of day, God will protect it.
6 The nations are in chaos,
and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
and the earth melts!
7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.
8 Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
See how he brings destruction upon the world.
9 He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.
For the choir director: A song of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!
4 A river brings joy to the city of our God,
the sacred home of the Most High.
5 God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
From the very break of day, God will protect it.
6 The nations are in chaos,
and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
and the earth melts!
7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.
8 Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
See how he brings destruction upon the world.
9 He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.
Commentary:
46:1–7 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. The people of God are secure, even in times of tumult and upheaval, because God is their refuge and strength (v. 1). God is present in his city (an emblem of his people as a whole) to protect it in all circumstances. Verses 2–3 use earthquakes, landslides, and the raging sea as images of raging nations and tottering kingdoms (v. 6). There is also a contrast: though the mountains be moved (v. 2), Zion shall not be moved (v. 5). The reason is that God has chosen Zion to be his holy habitation, i.e., the place of his sanctuary, where his people meet him in worship (v. 4). a river. In contrast to the roaring seas (vv. 2–3), the streams of this river (perhaps an image of the grace found in worshiping the true God; cf. Ezek. 47:1–12) make glad the city of God.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 994.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 994.
Questions:
One of the hardest parts of following Jesus is realizing that you can love Him deeply and still wrestle with anxiety. You can trust God, pray faithfully, and still wake up in the middle of the night with your mind racing. Cameron shared that there are mornings when he wakes up feeling anxious, like life is being held together with duct tape. Maybe you've felt that way too.
The world says peace comes when your circumstances improve. God says peace comes when your heart is anchored in His presence. Instead of carrying our worries alone, we're invited to bring them to the Lord in prayer. As we do, God's peace guards our hearts and minds, because we know the One who is in control. Our emotions will change from day to day. Our God never does.
The world says peace comes when your circumstances improve. God says peace comes when your heart is anchored in His presence. Instead of carrying our worries alone, we're invited to bring them to the Lord in prayer. As we do, God's peace guards our hearts and minds, because we know the One who is in control. Our emotions will change from day to day. Our God never does.
- How have you been letting your daily emotions dictate your view of God's faithfulness? When you wake up feeling overwhelmed before your feet even hit the floor, do you treat that anxiety as proof that God has distanced Himself, or as an invitation to lean into His presence?
- Psalm 46 reminds us that peace isn't found in a life without problems but in the presence of God. How does that truth change the way you think about the situations you're facing?
- Is there a burden you've prayed about but continue carrying on your own? How can you practically stop picking that worry back up?
Prayer Topics:
- Ask God to remind you that His presence doesn't depend on how you feel. Pray that He would help you trust His promises even when your emotions don't feel like it.
- Thank God that He is constant and unchanging. Praise Him that His peace is available to you, even in the middle of life's storms.
- Confess the ways you've been holding on to worry instead of surrendering it to God. Ask Him to help you release your need for control and rest in His presence.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
5. Why do I follow Jesus?
I follow Jesus because Jesus rose from the dead proving that He is the way, the truth and the life.
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
I follow Jesus because Jesus rose from the dead proving that He is the way, the truth and the life.
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
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