Taking Refuge and Standing Against the Odds

Psalm 11

 Finding Refuge

When I get stressed out about something that I'm going through, my go to is always a workout.  Now this is just my go to, it might be something different for you.  We all find comfort in things, things that help us relieve whatever stress we might be going through.  It might be working out also, shopping, venting to friends, writing letters/poems.   But for a little while it takes away the thoughts and feelings of whatever is bothering you.  Notice that I said for a little while, making it a temporary refuge.  So how to we get to that permanent refuge?  That permanent refuge is God.  It is guaranteed in the Bible that as followers of God we are going to go through difficult times, there is no way around that.  And not being a follower of God can just makes that finding refuge a whole lot harder;  difficult times just seem to keep piling up.  As much as you cry out to God and ask him why he is putting you through the situation you are in, you're not always going to get an immediate answer.
We aren't always meant to understand why.  God will either give you that immediate answer or your meant to go through that situation for a reason.  And we have to somehow find comfort in that fact that God is putting you through that situation for a reason, and to just except that.
Yes, I know it is very hard to do because we are people that like to get answers, we're curious.  We try to better ourselves and sometimes feel as if everyone in our path somehow gets what we want, or is making it harder for us to get to what we want (they are against you).  They have want we are wanting.
After beating yourself up for a bit, you suddenly find this great determination within yourself and feel unstoppable.  I've had this many times, and it eventually burns out.   We are not meant to be timid Christians!  We are meant to stand behind the Lord in times of trouble, sorrow, anxiety.  The Lord is our refuge, a permanent refuge.  He strengthens your spirit when you turn to him.  I know he is currently doing this for me.  He will always take care of you.  And you have to trust him in that fact.  He wouldn't do anything that would put us in a bad situation.  Trust that the Lord will protect you from the people that are trying to harm you, maybe not physically, but mentally.  He will bring you out on the other side a stronger and better person.

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline."
- 2 Timothy 1:7


"In the Lord I take refuge.
How then can you say to me;
'Flee loke a bird to your mountain,
..."
- Psalm 11: 1

Psalm 12 

Not Afraid to Stand Out

"Help, Lord, for the godly are no more;
     the faithful have vanished from among
       men."

When we are first baptist into the house of the Lord, we have a strong dedication to our faith.  As we getting older sometimes our dedication comes and goes, and for others it constantly grows stronger.   As Christians we are held to a higher standards and some might feel restricted by that.  We are not meant to feel restricted in any way when being a follower of Christ.  We are afraid of being judged because we are a Christian.  I always get that image of telling someone I believe in God and them

Sometimes being the one to stand out is the most beautiful thing.  

scrunching up their brow and lip going up to their nose and the head full of judgement.  It is because of this image or another that you may have that you may be afraid to declare your love for the Lord.  Trust me, what other thinks one day will not matter to you.  You will declare you faith no anyone.
But as young Christians we get scared about being judged and do not share with others.  We blind into the crowd of our friends, even our actions don't point to you being a Christian.
I know for the longest time as a Christian, the words that came out of my mouth and the things I did, in no way gave evidence to the faith I have today.  How often do you follow what your friends do so that you don't feel embarrassed?  Would what you are doing be something God would approve of?
We start to blend in with others and not stand up for our faith in the Lord.  We are scared to fight for the Lord because of what others will think of us.  Scared to admit that we are Christians.  Going against what you know everyone else is doing, even when you know it is right may not always be the easiest choice.  You have to give it all up to the Lord, this won't limit you in nay way, but give you amazing possibilities that you would have never imagined.  But we have to rebuild our faith in the Lord daily.  We can't take a couple days off.  The more time you spend with the Lord, just like another person, the closer we become to them.
Standing out is what makes you a unique individual.  Yes, there are a lot of Christians out there in the world, but no other Christian is like you.  You are still an individual.  God has gifted you with something special, a special way to serve him.  You were born to stand out even in a sea of Christians!

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."
-Romans 12:2




**This is just my own personal opinion/interpretation on the two Psalms after reading Trusting God for A Better Tomorrow by Wendy Pope