Always Run To God First and He Will Be Your Refuge

追加: 2026-05-04

[00:00:02]In Psalm 31:1, King David cried out, "In you, Lord, I have taken refuge.

[00:00:10]Let me never be put to shame. Deliver me in your righteousness."

[00:00:16]Let's meditate together before we pray.

[00:00:19]This is a king crying out.

[00:00:22]The king of Israel appointed by God.

[00:00:26]A man with resources, with armies, with wealth, with earthly power.

[00:00:32]By human standards, he had everything many people would envy.

[00:00:38]Yet the Bible says he cried out.

[00:00:41]What did he cry out?

[00:00:44]In you, oh Lord, I have taken refuge.

[00:00:48]Deliver me in your righteousness.

[00:00:52]The main point is that David found his refuge in the Lord.

[00:00:57]Who do you turn to when you face trouble? Do you remember the Lord?

[00:01:04]Do you trust him?

[00:01:06]Do you run to him for help?

[00:01:10]The word we are looking at today is one we all absolutely have to be aware of.

[00:01:18]The scripture earlier mentioned how David cried unto the Lord.

[00:01:22]We will also see through scripture that the king was always in the habit of doing this of calling unto God irrespective of the resources he had.

[00:01:33]He called on God. His hope was never in those resources but in the Lord who made things work for his good.

[00:01:44]The Lord was his refuge.

[00:01:47]Psalm 46:es 1:5 gives us a more detailed insight into just what it means for God to be our refuge as believers.

[00:01:58]It says, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

[00:02:05]Therefore, we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.

[00:02:23]Cellah, there is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the most high.

[00:02:33]God is in the midst of her. She shall not be moved. God shall help her just at the break of dawn.

[00:02:42]The first verse says, "God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble."

[00:02:50]Maybe we should take a while to really look into what that word means.

[00:02:55]The word refuge itself literally means shelter, protection.

[00:03:01]It means a safe place from danger or distress.

[00:03:06]So this verse is basically telling us that the Lord is our shelter. He is our safe place. He is our place of protection.

[00:03:16]He goes further to say that he is so sure about God's protection and his help that even in impossible situations he knows he is covered because he is under God's protection.

[00:03:29]This is what the psalmist believed.

[00:03:32]What do we believe?

[00:03:34]It is easy to say, "I am under the Lord's protection." But the things we believe are shown more in how we act rather than what we say.

[00:03:45]We can agree with a thing and yet do the opposite.

[00:03:49]Just like today's message, we really do need to ask ourselves some deep soulsearching questions.

[00:03:57]What really do we believe? If challenges come, do we actually run to God? Do we believe that there is a safe place in him? That there is protection in him? Is he your first choice of refuge? And just to clarify, protection in God is not choosing not to do anything. It is believing him to guide your every step even in the midst of that struggle, of that hardship.

[00:04:26]It is trusting him to lead you out. It is casting your cares upon him. That is what running to him means.

[00:04:36]But there is something I want us to note in this. When you trust God to protect you, when you trust him to be your refuge, he should not be your last resort.

[00:04:48]He should be your first call.

[00:04:51]He should not be the option when every other option is exhausted.

[00:04:56]We should trust him from the onset from the very beginning of your need for protection.

[00:05:04]In fact, the very first thought on our mind should be Lord what do I do? What's the way out of this?

[00:05:14]God is not the impossible option that can then be consulted when all else fails.

[00:05:21]This just shows that we do not see him as a present help in our lives.

[00:05:27]We have seen it in the pages of scripture. Prophets of old have written about it. Kings have written about it.

[00:05:34]Modern-day men have written about it. I have seen it in my life. When we are deep in that problem or in that issue and we can't figure out a way out, sometimes all we need is just a word.

[00:05:48]All we need is just the Lord giving a word of wisdom, giving a swift insight.

[00:05:54]Sometimes he gives strength to our hearts and many times he sets a chain of events in motion just so we can come out victorious.

[00:06:04]So it is up to us to take responsibility and step into the covering that he offers.

[00:06:12]I want us to also be aware of one key factor that may stand in the way of our going to him and our receiving from him.

[00:06:21]Fear.

[00:06:22]I have found in my own journey that when I decide to stay with God or look to him for protection, the major hindrance that stops me from receiving is fear.

[00:06:37]In fact, this is also what stops many from coming at all.

[00:06:42]There is a subtle fear in our hearts that the Lord will not hear us, that he won't be able to do anything about our situation.

[00:06:52]So instead of trusting him and risking being disappointed, we step out of him to take care of the situation ourselves.

[00:07:02]That itself is a form of fear or a lack of faith.

[00:07:07]A fear of God failing you.

[00:07:11]There was a time in my life when I was sick and the sickness had become a repeated thing.

[00:07:19]It was constantly coming and going.

[00:07:23]I would tell myself that I believed the word of the Lord. I would even read it.

[00:07:29]But then when the symptoms came, I would be afraid again. And this became a cycle in my life.

[00:07:37]But then a day came. I found Psalm 46 verse 1 to5.

[00:07:44]I had read it before, but this day was different. And this time I did not simply read it. I stayed with it for days, weeks, meditating on the same length of scripture over and over.

[00:08:00]And I remember when the symptoms came back, the first thing I said to myself was, "I will trust the Lord and I will not fear." And that was literally it.

[00:08:10]Bit by bit, I stopped seeing the symptoms.

[00:08:14]The Lord protected me. The Lord shielded me when everything looked practically impossible.

[00:08:21]And I realized in that period that the fear I always carried with me was a lack of faith.

[00:08:28]It was a clear tell that I didn't trust God, that I didn't believe his word, and that fear always stole my testimony.

[00:08:38]The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

[00:08:52]Fear is not of God, and fear steals what God has for us. The same is the issue in this case.

[00:09:01]Having made that decision to run to God in our time of need, having run to him to be our refuge, we also must not be afraid to trust him to take whatever is in our way.

[00:09:15]Faith is the beginning and end of everything with God. And fear is the opposite of it.

[00:09:22]So together, let's make a confession today.

[00:09:26]I will trust in God to lead me, to guide me through every situation and every circumstance.

[00:09:35]No matter how impossible they may seem, I will have faith in him. I will not crumble to fear and I will come out victorious.

[00:09:46]Amen. If you have said that confession, then I invite you to also say this prayer with me.

[00:09:56]Heavenly Father, thank you for the comfort I find in your word today.

[00:10:02]I'm grateful that you made sure this message reached me and gave me new understanding, especially right now.

[00:10:12]Thank you for caring about my pain, for noticing my heartaches and fears, and for always watching over me.

[00:10:21]Thank you for covering me and being my refuge even when I don't notice or believe it.

[00:10:28]I'm thankful that you never take it away from me.

[00:10:33]Father, I admit that I haven't made it a habit to come to you first when I face trouble.

[00:10:40]Many times I've tried to handle everything on my own.

[00:10:45]I've relied on my own understanding, efforts, and strength.

[00:10:51]I confess that I've only turned to you when nothing else worked.

[00:10:57]I haven't been open to your protection as I should have been.

[00:11:01]I haven't let you shield, guide, or lead me through the things that weigh on my heart. I've missed the rest you offer because I was too busy trying to solve things myself.

[00:11:15]I haven't always seen you as my refuge, even though you always are.

[00:11:21]Today, I ask for your help.

[00:11:25]Help me when I'm stubborn, when I doubt, and when fear keeps me from trusting you fully. Help me see as I should. Help me believe as I should. Help me know without any doubt that you are always there for me.

[00:11:43]You watch over me and care about what matters to me.

[00:11:47]Let this truth settle deep in my heart today.

[00:11:51]Let it be more than just a thought or a good confession.

[00:11:56]Let it become a conviction that shapes how I live.

[00:12:00]From now on, I choose you first for protection.

[00:12:05]I will run to you first, not last.

[00:12:09]I will look to you before relying on my own understanding.

[00:12:13]I choose to stand on your word in Psalm 46:5.

[00:12:19]God is in the midst of her. She shall not be moved.

[00:12:24]God shall help her just at the break of dawn.

[00:12:29]Father, let this word come alive in me.

[00:12:32]Let it anchor my heart and speak louder than every fear, threat, uncertainty, and lie of the enemy.

[00:12:41]Because you are with me, I will not be moved. I will not be shaken or fall apart under pressure. I will not collapse no matter what comes against me.

[00:12:54]Whatever rises around me or tries to trouble me and whatever the enemy tries to use to hurt or haunt me, I will keep standing because you are with me.

[00:13:06]Your presence in my life makes all the difference. When you are near, everything changes.

[00:13:13]What could have broken me will not break me when I am safe in you.

[00:13:18]What could have taken away my peace will not do so when my heart is focused on you.

[00:13:25]What could have overwhelmed me will not win because you are my refuge and my strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

[00:13:35]Father, today I stand against the spirit of fear.

[00:13:40]I resist the fear that has weakened my faith, clouded my mind, and kept me from holding on to what you have promised.

[00:13:49]I reject the fear that tells me you will not help me.

[00:13:54]I push back against the fear that makes me doubt your protection, your goodness, and your faithfulness.

[00:14:02]Lord, I know fear is not from you.

[00:14:07]Your word says, "You have given me power, love, and a sound mind, not fear." So now I let go of fear. I will not let it control my thoughts, shape my choices, or take away my peace anymore.

[00:14:26]While I stay under your protection, I choose to trust you completely.

[00:14:32]I trust you when things make sense and when they do not.

[00:14:37]I trust you when I feel strong and when I feel weak.

[00:14:41]I trust you when answers seem close and when the journey feels long.

[00:14:47]Today I choose to stand with power, love, and a clear mind.

[00:14:53]I welcome that clarity into my heart, my thoughts, and my feelings.

[00:14:59]I accept a renewed mind that lines up with your word.

[00:15:03]I trust that my heart will stay strong and calm even when I hear bad news.

[00:15:09]I find new faith to believe that you never fail.

[00:15:14]You have always been faithful and I know you will not start failing now. You have supported others before me and I believe you will support me too.

[00:15:24]You have delivered people in the past and I trust you will do it again.

[00:15:30]You have protected before and I know you will protect again.

[00:15:36]Father, starting today, I turn to you for refuge.

[00:15:41]I want to come to you first in every situation.

[00:15:45]Help me make this my habit and my first reaction.

[00:15:49]When I face trouble, fear, or uncertainty, remind me to seek you. train my heart to find shelter in your presence.

[00:16:00]Thank you for your word today, for hearing my prayers, and for renewing my faith.

[00:16:08]Thank you for taking away my fear so I can trust you and move forward with confidence in your promises.

[00:16:15]Thank you, heavenly father. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen.

[00:16:23]I hope this devotion brings you blessings. We pray that everything shared in the prayer comes to you in Jesus' name. If you have any special prayer requests, we would be honored to pray for you. Feel free to share them in the comments. May God's peace be with you always.