Daily devotion – A Mighty Fortress
“Safe am I, safe am I, in the hollow of His hand…..”
We are living in a time of great anxiety and distress. Our world has truly changed forever but what is more alarming is that many in Christ’s Church are thinking that God’s care for them seems to be lacking. The Psalmist reminds us in Psalm 91:2, that our Lord’s love and care for us is always with us.
“He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.”
It was Martin Luther – who wrote one of the best known hymns that express the very essence of the Psalmist – “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” sometime between 1527 and 1529…
“A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.”
The words of this hymn capture the truth of God’s love and care for each of us. Today can you turn to God in trust and faith when troubles and temptations threaten to overwhelm you?
Yes – a thousand times yes! What greater proof do we need than that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place!
This week, know you can be safe in His hands no matter the situation – John 10, and that His love and care for you is always there.