Oh Lord, My Refuge

Ps 16: 1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you."

3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.

4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.

5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.

11 You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

How true it is that our refuge, the refuge of the righteous, is only in the Lord. There is no place we can go from His presence, nor is there any place we would ever want to go if He were not there. He is the Son that warms our hearts and gives us life. The Son gives life that bears the fruit of goodness in our lives. He is our only Good and produces the only good that comes from us. How sweet to bask in the warmth of all that He is and to have Him work in and through us to produce the fruit of righteousness.

Because we are akin to His children there is no one on earth earth that we would desire to be with and fellowship with other than one of His children. We see the same face when we look to Heaven and we hold the same hand as we walk here on earth. He is our Father, we are His children and He is the Provider of all we have had and are going to have.

Those who don't follow our God will run after every other god there is and in their running they will only find dissatisfaction and futility. When we are finished with this life and we have NOT "run after our God", our sorrows will be multiplied to us exponentially.

Even in this life He gives grace and peace to those who follow after Him. There is life, in this life, for those who obey His Word and love to submit to His authority, for those who would rather sit at His feet than anywhere else. He makes the trip Home enjoyable for those who chose to love and obey Him.

What wonder of instruction is in His Word and He does not hide His Truth from His children. He allows us to drink from It and then He waters our hearts even in the dryness of the night. Our hearts will not be shaken because He is right beside us: He is holding us secure and we can not be shaken.

Were it not for His security I would be afraid, but He is my portion and He will never abandon me on my journey Home. My heart can sing as I travel because I rest in Him. There is no rest beside the rest that He provides.

The path of life, in this world and the next, has been made clear to me, only by His grace and in that path there is joy and peace for the trials. Not only is there joy and peace, but it is the fullest of joys that He gives to His children who are dwelling in His presence. We think that we have pleasures here on earth, but there are no pleasures that can compare to those He will give when we reach Heaven.

Oh Lord, may I walk in the light of Your Word. May my heart be inclined to Your statutes. Don't let me look to the right or to the left to find things to satisfy, but keep my heart fixed on You. There is nothing that can compare to the greatness of knowing You, yet there are times when I am distracted. There is nothing I have that You have not given and nothing I need that You will not provide. Let me be satisfied by all that You are, and not by things of this life. Guide my steps, calm my heart, instruct me from Your Word which I have treasured in my heart. Make my sleep sweet as I rest in You and my work productive as I trust in Your provision. I am weak and have nothing to offer if I don't have You, but in You I am strong. Keep my heart clinging to You and don't let me wonder from Your side. I am lost and afraid without You because You have shown me my dependence on You. Don't forsake me now.

You are good, gracious and kind and You are all that I want. Let my heart trust in You and not waver.