Psalm 36:7

How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Take a minute and let the truth of these words shield you and supply you with strength. Allow the promise of God’s words to become your truth and stronghold. Now place your name into the verse: How priceless is your unfailing love, O God for me, __(Name)________.  ____(Name)_________ take(s) refuge in the shadow of your wings. Is God’s truth sinking in? Is the promise of God’s unfailing love becoming a reality for you?

The Message version of this same verse describes the first line as “How exquisite your love, O God!” God’s love cannot be compared to anything else – it is perfect and He unconditionally extends His love to each of us. The image of God’s exquisite love leaves me wanting all that He offers. How could I not run to Him with open arms and know that the biggest hug is waiting just for me?

The second line follows up with how people react when given this unfailing love – they hang out with the person who is giving it so freely. It is a safe harbor where you most certainly can drop your anchor. Dictionary.com defines a refuge as the “condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger or trouble”. A refuge is a sanctuary, shelter, retreat or safe haven. Just listing these synonyms for refuge provides me with comfort.

God is the refuge that Psalm 36:7 is referring to and we find our worth and identity in God alone!

However, all of the above sounds too good to be true and can be allusive on most days due to the worldly demands we put on ourselves. Reality identifies me as a teacher, a mom and a daughter. Lesson plans, education reforms, common core, and  a new teacher evaluation system pull me away from believing that I will ever be good enough to accomplish all the state is requiring of me as a teacher. But my Almighty God has promised me the strength to overcome all. God’s word sends encouragement through Philippians 4:13 and we are empowered because “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

As a mom of two sons I can feel defeated or even frustrated by not saying the right words at the right time when one of my sons is hurting. Defeat looms when being a mom doesn’t bring the rewards I expect because daily demands overshadow those moments that should be highlighted instead. With God, defeat is not an option because we all are “conquerors”. “In all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:37

I am a daughter but – the approval and love of my parents is what I need and desire most even as a grown woman.We spend our lives proving ourselves to friends, family, coworkers and yes, even our parents. When we don’t feel we are good enough, God reminds us we are royalty in His eyes – “You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. Isaiah 62:3.

God’s words are truth and resting in His promises should be all we need. Renee Swope captures this sentiment perfectly in her book “A Confident Heart”. She says, “our hearts leak and will always end up empty when we find our worth in anything but who we are in Christ.” When we start to look elsewhere for acknowledgement and worth, we need to recognize we are being pulled from God and instead stop in our tracks and turn to His promises to fulfill us.

Today and everyday tell yourself “I am a child of God and I am loved by the one, true King!”  Let the words become your truth and let them fill the places that you now are filling with material objects, other people or overwhelming schedules.

Lord,

your love is #priceless and freely given to all. May we hold that truth today

in our hearts as we turn to you for refuge from the world’s demands.

We ask this in your loving name, O Jesus! Amen!

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