welcome and thanks for meditating with abide for access to over 1500 meditation
sessions download the abide app for free in iTunes or the Google Play Store so
ponder this question today have you recently felt weighed down particularly affected by gravity and
maybe fearful of daily pressures in your life when you feel burdened or fearful where do you
go where do you turn well a refuge is where you run to when you're in danger God actually
created refuge cities in ancient Israel so that people who were wrongly accused or in
danger could hide out in those cities safe where they could be cared for and protected
from harm so what about you where is your refuge God tells us that he will protect us when we pray
God brings us into his presence and shelters us from harm his very nearness is good for us what
an amazing thought so where is your refuge what is it do you want help trying to find it today
will join me as we meditate reflect and pray about God as your refuge from Psalm chapter
119 verse 114 but first join me in a time of opening prayer dear protector God you are my
safe place you are my rest I can trust you because I know you are absolutely sovereign
and perfectly good help me to lean into you all the time not just when I need help or go through
something hard but build my faith in you and you alone dear God and it's in Jesus name that I pray
so as we begin and as we posture ourselves before a safe and protecting God if you can I'd like you
to bow down get on your knees if you're able to on the floor if you can't do that that's
okay but find a posture or get into a frame of mind that allows you to humble yourself today
and place yourself under the shield of our great ponder that now do that now if you can
now in a time of cleansing want you to focus on coming clean if there's anything
holding you back from connecting with God what a perfect time to confess that now as we begin
so take a moment now really all the time that you need and focus on those things that are blocking
you from feeling in his presence I know that may be difficult but remember God is a God of love
and grace and mercy and forgiveness so approach him now in a time of confession and cleansing
our God is a God of strength he is a safe place a mighty tower turn to him now listen carefully to
what he has to tell you about who he is open your heart to these words of praise from Psalm chapter
119 verse 114 you are my refuge and my shield your word is my source of hope so what image comes to
mind from this passage try to create a concrete picture of that in your mind of God as a refuge
or a shield listen to this passage carefully one more time you are my refuge and my shield
your word is my source of hope what word did you hear most clearly in that passage let that be your
focus now take several moments and focus on what you heard and let that focus become your prayer
ask yourself this question where do I turn and run to when I'm in trouble is God my refuge or
do I run to other people or things for my protection is the Bible my source of hope
or is my hope in money or success or recognition or something else focus on that question ponder
that as you prepare to go deeper in your time of meditation and prayer before God
with I still closed listen again as I read from psalm 119 verse 114 you are my hiding
place and my shield I wait for your word what does this passage tell you about God
how has he shown himself to be a hiding place for you is that a characteristic of God that
you embrace or understand do you want to pursue that more ponder that now at a time of meditation
in psalm 119 verse 114 we find a man who desires to keep God's laws but also desires his presence
perhaps you are weary today and desire God to be near to you take a moment right now
and just let God read your heart no eloquent words no words at all really just sit and rest
in his presence focus on his presence now in a time of deeper reflection and meditation
to weight is a difficult thing we want action now but waiting on the Word of God or putting
your hope in his word means trusting that God will do what he says he will work all things
for our good just maybe not in our timing or in the way we expect but he will work
on us and make us more like him every day it just takes time he does have a purpose for us
but it may look different or take longer than we want so are you placing your ultimate hope
in God or are you trying to force things to happen in your timing and in your way
focus on that now as a time of confession if you need as you ponder that before the Lord
listen one in final time as I read and you reflect on psalm 119 verse 114 you are my refuge and my
shield your word is my source of hope King David talks a lot about God as a refuge or a shield in
Psalm 3 verse 3 says but you O Lord are my shield about me my glory and the lifter of
my head in Psalm chapter 32 verse 7 it says you are a hiding place for me you preserve me from
trouble you surround me with shouts of deliverance Psalm 91 verses 1 and 2 says he who dwells in the
shelter of the most high will abide in the shadow of the Almighty I will say to the Lord my refuge
and my fortress my god in whom I trust so right now want you to imagine God as a literal hiding
place imagine him as a place you go for rest from the battle or protection from your enemies
what do you need a hiding place from today using your sanctified imagination I want you to imagine
that literally as God is a literal hiding place and what are you hiding from today what do you
need protection from what do you need refuge from let this time of reflection be you a meditation
it's in the midst of trouble that David needs shelter but more than physical protection David
knows that in God he can find restoration healing the Lord lifts his head the Lord
delivers the Lord is the one whom David trusts so imagine yourself sitting in the literal safe
refuge of the presence of God as you sit there you are not just shielded but you were given
energy and joy and peace so take time now to be present with God in this safe place
when you arrested you are ready to accomplish the tasks God has given you to do today so ask
God now to rejuvenate to give you what you need to face the day with courage and joy regardless
of what comes and let this consideration be your meditation and prayer to God
join me now as we close our time oh refuge and shielding God let me hide myself and you
know don't let my heart be fooled into thinking that anyone or anything else can comfort fulfill
or shelter me today only you can dear lord please expose the idols in my life the things
and people that I so often use to make myself feel better instead of you let me run to you
as my true hope my true shelter refuge and God you care for me as a father cares for his child
who love me with an everlasting love all things are yours and you are a generous God
I am yours today and you are mine teach my heart to trust you more today and destroy
the false idols and comforts in my life that are not of you I thank you for this time this
realization this new trust and I pray this all in the name of your son Jesus Christ
so as you begin to come out of the stillness of prayer I want you to grab on to the things
that God spoke to you during their time today internalize them ask him to help you remember
that he is a safe place that he is the true hope the true refuge the true rest and as you reach
out today towards surrendering to the safe secure refuge arms of Jesus I hope it brings you into a
place of peace that lasts throughout your day as you continue to meditate reflect pray and abide
in Christ we hope you enjoyed this meditation and that you come back for more for access to
over 1,500 meditation sessions download the abide app for free in iTunes or the Google Play Store