I have been blessed to live most of my life in Arizona. Yes, it has been a blessing!
People who haven’t been to our state think of the blistering hot desert, landscaped with cactus and desert sand. However, the terrain is diverse. Farmlands and sand dunes to the south, mountains and forests to the north. “
One thing it has is a wide variety of mountains. They capture my attention and bring a depth of meaning to some of my favorite verses from the book of Psalms.
“I love you, Lord God, and you make me strong. 2 You are my mighty rock, my fortress, my protector, the rock where I am safe, my shield, my powerful weapon, and my place of shelter.” Psalm 18:1-2 CEV
“Only God can save me, and I calmly wait for him. 2 God alone is the mighty rock that keeps me safe and the fortress where I am secure.” Psalm 62:1-2 CEV
“Let my words and my thoughts be pleasing to you, Lord, because you are my mighty rock and my protector.” Psalm 19:4 CEV
“Be my mighty rock, the place where I can always run for protection. Save me by your command! You are my mighty rock and my fortress.” Psalm 71:3 CEV
You get the picture, right?
Some of the rock formations of the Chiricahua mountains in eastern Arizona are nearly impossible to climb. This was a land where Geronimo and Cochise keep their people safe from their enemies. I imagine that David, when writing the Psalms, was thinking about some similar mountain tops in Israel as he wrote the words above.
God, our Father, is our mighty rock. Our place of refuge when we are under attack and facing imminent danger.
Jesus told us that God’s word is our firm foundation. It’s like building our house on a solid rock – immovable and God’s word is unbreakable. It is eternal!
“ Anyone who hears and obeys these teachings of mine is like a wise person who built a house on solid rock. 25 Rain poured down, rivers flooded, and winds beat against that house. But it was built on solid rock, and so it did not fall.” Matthew 7:24-25 CEV
When I read those verses over again this morning an old hymn came to mind.
“Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.”
Maybe you are experiencing something that is causing you to feel shaky. Doubts and fears are swirling around like a fierce wind; run for shelter. Our Father is a mighty rock; dig down to your firm foundation.
God’s word is immovable, unshakable and will not break!