The Lord My Refuge
In this life we will face challenges to our faith in the Word of God. We will also have to face the same sufferings that Jesus faced.
However I do not see Jesus living in fear, depression, anxiety or worry. The things Jesus suffered in His life were persecution, rejection by family and friends, ridicule by those who claimed to know God, false accusations and so many other mental and physical attacks.
First of all, He knew who He was. He referred to Himself as the Son of Man. Paul described Him as the second Adam. He was totally human just like the rest of us.
Heb. 2: 14 says, “forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same…”
Heb. 4: 15 says, “For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
How was Jesus, as a human being like us, able to overcome all these challenges to His faith?
Jesus studied the Word of God. He meditated on the Word of God until it was seated deeply in His heart. He knew what the Word of God said about His God. He knew what the Word of God said about many promises of God.
He knew if He kept His mind focused on God and His promises, that God would protect Him, provide for Him and never leave Him.
As stated in Psalm 91, He knew that if He dwelled in the secret place of the Most High, He would abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
He knew because He made the Lord, who was His refuge, even the Most High, His habitation, there would no evil befall Him, neither would any plague come nigh Him.
He made the Father His refuge. A refuge being a place of escape and safety. He made His Father, His fortress. A fortress is a safe place surrounded by impenetrable walls of defense.
It didn’t matter what people thought of Him. He knew what His Father thought of Him.
It didn’t matter how much He was persecuted or rejected by family. He knew He was loved by God. Dwelling in that secret place or making the Father your habitation speaks of times of solitude and prayer with God. That was the habit of Jesus.
When you face times of persecution, rejection, ridicule, fear, worry, depression or anxiety, do what Jesus did on a regular basis. Jesus meditated on the Word of God. It became such a major part of His life that when challenges came, out of the treasure of His heart He spoke in faith what that Word of God said.
He also practiced on a regular basis something we all need to do: get alone with the Lord and let Him be your refuge and your fortress.
- Pastor Jim
However I do not see Jesus living in fear, depression, anxiety or worry. The things Jesus suffered in His life were persecution, rejection by family and friends, ridicule by those who claimed to know God, false accusations and so many other mental and physical attacks.
First of all, He knew who He was. He referred to Himself as the Son of Man. Paul described Him as the second Adam. He was totally human just like the rest of us.
Heb. 2: 14 says, “forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same…”
Heb. 4: 15 says, “For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
How was Jesus, as a human being like us, able to overcome all these challenges to His faith?
Jesus studied the Word of God. He meditated on the Word of God until it was seated deeply in His heart. He knew what the Word of God said about His God. He knew what the Word of God said about many promises of God.
He knew if He kept His mind focused on God and His promises, that God would protect Him, provide for Him and never leave Him.
As stated in Psalm 91, He knew that if He dwelled in the secret place of the Most High, He would abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
He knew because He made the Lord, who was His refuge, even the Most High, His habitation, there would no evil befall Him, neither would any plague come nigh Him.
He made the Father His refuge. A refuge being a place of escape and safety. He made His Father, His fortress. A fortress is a safe place surrounded by impenetrable walls of defense.
It didn’t matter what people thought of Him. He knew what His Father thought of Him.
It didn’t matter how much He was persecuted or rejected by family. He knew He was loved by God. Dwelling in that secret place or making the Father your habitation speaks of times of solitude and prayer with God. That was the habit of Jesus.
When you face times of persecution, rejection, ridicule, fear, worry, depression or anxiety, do what Jesus did on a regular basis. Jesus meditated on the Word of God. It became such a major part of His life that when challenges came, out of the treasure of His heart He spoke in faith what that Word of God said.
He also practiced on a regular basis something we all need to do: get alone with the Lord and let Him be your refuge and your fortress.
- Pastor Jim
Posted in Blog, Life According to God
Tagged with Refuge, Persecution, Suffering, Accusations, Meditation, Ridicule, Faith
Tagged with Refuge, Persecution, Suffering, Accusations, Meditation, Ridicule, Faith
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