He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." -Psalm 91: 1-2 I've written in earlier entries about how often and how intensely God connects with me when I am exercising. To my delight, my recent workouts have been rich with opportunities to hear God's voice. Knowing that both my body and my soul will be satisfied in these hours, I find myself longing for the next chance to hit the trail or jump on my bike and take off for a ride. This is a very good thing!
Although it's not the only way, the most frequent way God speaks to me as I exercise is through the lyrics of praise songs that stream (loudly) through my iPod. He captures my attention with a verse or phrase that makes perfect application to my life at that moment. Sometimes a song I’ve heard a hundred times before will sound completely different, as if the lyrics were suddenly changed to fit my situation. Does this happen to you too?
Today I had a connection like this while running at Town Lake. I was a mile or so in to my run, with my iPod on shuffle mode, when Jeremy Camp's song "My Fortress" started playing. While
this isn't a song that I know by heart, I've heard it enough times that I can sing along to the chorus. But as the song played today, a few key words jumped out at me (this fear...His peace...a sanctuary) and I started to listen more carefully to the song's message.The lyrics took me back to a time in late 2007 when I was struggling with discontentment. Although successful by many measures (according to the world's standards), and seemingly "happy" on the surface, I had somehow lost the internal peace and joy that I once knew, the kind that comes from being in right relationship with God. I was desperate to be delivered from this place of unrest, and to have my happiness restored.
When I called out to my Father and invited Him in to my grief, He was quick to draw near. When I asked for insight and understanding, He enlightened me and shined a light into the shadowed corners of my life. Conflicted and hurting, I asked God to be my REFUGE--the sanctuary that the world could not provide me with, and never will.
Not only did my Savior hear my cry, but He mercifully reached down and pulled me out of my pit. He helped me to identify the unconfessed sin in my life that was distancing me from Him, and to overcome the fear that kept me from confronting it and trusting Him. As I put my hope in Him completely, He began a healing work in my heart, and in my life, so that I could find the joy and contentment that I longed for. As I traded the lies of this world for His truth, His truth set me free. I found my refuge and my strength in Jesus: my fortress, my Rock.
"I'm running fast to seek Your face...Head first I dive into Your grace"...
As these words streamed through my ears, an image passed in front of me. I imagined myself running fast to Him (and my Father running fast to me). I picked up my pace and played the song again, and again, letting the vision and the song carry me through my run. As I connected to the message and the emotions built up inside me, I felt a pull toward God so strong it was all I could do to not to drop to my knees and praise my Lord right there on the trail! I hurried to my car so I could find paper and a pen and record these feelings.
Here are the words to the song, and a "must click" link to a short devotional from the songwriter, Jeremy Camp. May the words of scripture he reads comfort and strengthen you as they did me.
Jeremy Camp devotional: My Fortress (click here to listen)
I can feel it coming over me, all the weight of what this fear can bring. I know on my own I can’t survive, and I’m fading fast now. I’m closing in on what’s in store for me, all the rest in your security. I’m holding on to the words You speak, and You’re speaking clear now.
I’m running fast to seek Your face, head first I dive into Your grace...
You are my fortress, You are the refuge where I hide. You are the strength when I can’t fight, You are the only one I rest my life in. You are the only hope I find, You are my only peace of mind. You are the only one I rest my life in.
I’m taking hold of what’s in front of me, a place where I can rest my weary feet. There’s no other place that I can go, so I’m waiting here now. I’m letting go of what the world will bring, a sanctuary that will never breathe. I found my heart in that place before, and I’ll never go back. I get lost within that place, the place where I always wish I'd stayed.
I can feel it coming over me, all the weight of what this fear can bring. I know on my own I can’t survive, and I’m fading fast now. I’m closing in on what’s in store for me, all the rest in your security. I’m holding on to the words You speak, and You’re speaking clear now.
I’m running fast to seek Your face, head first I dive into Your grace...
You are my fortress, You are the refuge where I hide. You are the strength when I can’t fight, You are the only one I rest my life in. You are the only hope I find, You are my only peace of mind. You are the only one I rest my life in.
I’m taking hold of what’s in front of me, a place where I can rest my weary feet. There’s no other place that I can go, so I’m waiting here now. I’m letting go of what the world will bring, a sanctuary that will never breathe. I found my heart in that place before, and I’ll never go back. I get lost within that place, the place where I always wish I'd stayed.
You are the only one, the only one I rest my life in, Lord. You are my hope, my strength, my life, my peace... my rock, my joy, my EVERYTHING now. You are the refuge where I hide,You are the only one I rest my life in.
Father,
Father,
You are my fortress, my rock, my refuge from the ways of this world and from my sin. I know that I am safe with You, protected by your outstretched arms of power and love. In every circumstance, in every difficulty, your protection is both constant and sufficient. In Your grip I have nothing and no one to fear...what a comforting thought.
I thank you for Your constant presence and availability: when I see You, and even when I don't. I vow once again to put my faith in You, to hide myself in You, to rest my life in You, to worship You alone...today and always.
Amen.
