Daily Devotions

“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.

He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall never be shaken.

How long will you assail a person, will you batter your victim, all of you, as you would a leaning wall, a tottering fence?

Their only plan is to bring down a person of prominence. They take pleasure in falsehood; they bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse.

For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

Those of low estate are but a breath, those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.

Put no confidence in extortion, and set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God,

and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord. For you repay to all according to their work.” Psalm 62

This is a great reading for a Wednesday. Middle of the week. Hump day. The news filled with horror and hyperbole. It feels good to be reminded that God is our rock and our fortress.

What in our lives can we entrust to God? Everything and anything. What in our lives are we willing to entrust to God? Now that is where it gets tricky.

I love the story of the conversion of the early English knights to Christianity. Known as fierce warriors, they entered the water for their baptisms. As the priests submerged them the knights allowed everything but the hand with which they swung their swords. They entrusted everything to God…except that. That they held back.

What do you hold back?

Your worries and fears might be teaching you something about what you hold back from God. Your calendar and your weekly schedule might teach you something about what you hold back from God. Your attitudes and actions toward the people who you find troubling might be teaching you about what you hold back from God.

And then there is the old “sometimes.”

Sometimes I am able to entrust everything to God. But sometimes I go my own way, I trust my own solutions, I think I can handle everything quite nicely myself thank you very much.

The psalmist tells us “For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.” Notice the preposition! It doesn’t say what we expect. It doesn’t say my hope is IN him, it says my hope is FROM him. Even hope itself is a gift from God. It is God being our rock, salvation, fortress, and deliverance.

So yes, today is a busy day in the midst of a busy week. But do take some time today to be quiet. To just show up for God. Even for a few minutes. Be quiet. Let God teach you about what you hold back and where you fall into “sometimes.”

The psalmist says “Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this…” Taking a little time to listen is a great strategy to actually hear something.

Let us pray: Dear Lord, you are our rock, our fortress, our hope, our life. Teach us where we hold back and inspire us to let go and let you. We will do our part. We will do the best we can. But we are limited. Do for us what we cannot do for ourselves and in that teach us anew to put our trust in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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