OUR DAILY BREAD : OUR BEST DEFENSE

[cimi]

January 21
Monday


OUR BEST
DEFENSE

READ:
Psalm 31:1-8
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Be my rock of refuge, a
fortress of defense to
save me.
_ Psalm 31:2
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In late January 1956, during the tense days of the Montgomery Boycott, civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King jr. could not sleep. A threatening phone call had terrified him. So he prayed, "I am here taking a stand for what I believe is right. But Lord, I must confess that I'm weak now, I'm faltering. I'm losing my courage. Now, I am afraid.... The people are looking to me for leadership, and if I stand before them without strength and courage, they too will falter. I am at the end of my powers.... I can't face it alone."

Dr. King later wrote, "At that moment I experienced the presence of the Divine as I never experienced Him before. It seemed as though I could hear the quiet assurance of an inner voice saying, 'Stand up for righteousness, stand up for truth; and God will be at your side forever.' Almost at once my fears began to go. My uncertainty disappeared. I was ready to face anything."

The rest is history. Dr. King wanted to see people of all colors free of the damage done by racism and prejudice.

If we face opposition when we're trying to do what's right, we too must cry out to the Lord. He alone is our "rock of refuge, a fortress of defense" (Ps. 31:2). He is our reliable source of strength and protection.
__ Dave Egner
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~~~~~~~~~Lord, help me stand upon Your rock of Truth~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~And never trust myself to sinking sand;~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~Whenever I am faced with evil powers,~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~I'll call uon Your strong and mighty hand. __ Hess~~~~~~~
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When we trust the power of God,
we experience peace, not panic

*************Today's Bible Reading __ Psalm 31:1-8****************

1 In You, O LORD, I put my
trust; let me never be
ashamed; deliver me in
Your righteousness. 2 Bow
down Your ear to me,
deliver me speedily; be my
rock of refuge, a fortress of
defense to save me.

3 For You are my rock and
my fortress; therefore, for
Your name's sake, lead me
and guide me. 4 Pull me out
of the net which they have
secretly laid for me, for You
are my strength. 5 Into Your
hand I commit my spirit;
You have redeemed me,
O LORD God of truth.

6 I have hated those who
regard useless idols; but I
trust in the LORD, 7 I wil be
glad and rejoice in Your
mercy, for You have
considered my trouble; you
have known my soul in
adversities, 8 and have not
shut me up into the hand of
the enemy; you have set my
feet in a wide place.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Psam 31 was written by David at a time when he was alone and
abandoned by friends because he was pursued, opposed, and
persecuted by his enemes (vv.11-13). This psalm is a prayer of
confident trust in God, Trusting God as his refuge, his rock, and his
fortress (v.2), David confidently committed his spirit to God (v.5).
While on the cross, Jesus prayed the same prayer of trust to His
Father, "Into Your hands I commit My spirit" (Luke 23:46). __SKT