MY ROCK
Today’s Reading: Psalm 18
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Monasteries are built high above on great rocks in this rugged landscape in Greece. The monasteries that you see are the Great Meteoro and Varlaam.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Psalm 18:1-2
I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
The conclusion David draws from the above statement is this, “I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies” (18:3). David composed and sang this song to celebrate the Lord’s deliverance from the hand of King Saul. Saul was trying to kill him. Again and again David hid amongst the great rocks in the area of En Gedi, east of the Dead Sea. It is plain to see as we learn about David, as well as from David, that his rock-solid confidence was not in the rocks, but in the “Rock,” his God! David exclaims in song, “Who is a rock, except our God?” (18:31b). “The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock!” (18:46a).
The confidence that those of us have who believe in Jesus is expressed in song too. Let’s find online that amazing hymn, “Rock of Ages,” and sing along (click here).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, You gave me instructions about the foundation for my life. I know that I must build my life on the Rock! You are that Bedrock, dear Jesus. I rest securely on You, not on the shifting sands of contemporary human experience and the philosophies of mankind. I pray that I will stand firm on You, Lord God! Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I may have referred to this sometime last year, but here goes… I was listening to a French language radio station as the late Pope, John Paul II, was speaking in Quebec City. Here are the words I heard, “Pierre (Peter) est un petit pierre (is a little stone), mais Jesus est Le Grande Pierre! (but Jesus is The Great Rock!).” He was referring to the words of Jesus following the answer of Peter to the question of Jesus, “Whom do men say that I am?” Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!” Then Jesus said to Peter, “You are Peter (a little rock) and upon this Rock (a great Rock, Jesus Himself), I will build My Church.” In my early days as a follower of Jesus, I struggled with my understanding of these words of Jesus found in Matthew 16:18. My concerns about the Church being built on Peter were highlighted by the words of Jesus just five verses later (Matthew 16:23): “But He, (Jesus) turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.'” Yes, Peter was mightily used of God. I want to be used of God too, but I’m ever so thankful that no church is built on me, a weak and flawed human being. There is only one GREAT ROCK!!! Jesus Himself!!! I’ve just read again Matthew 16:13-26. Like those very small-appearing monasteries built on that great rock in Reynold’s photograph above, I’m building my life and my hope for eternal life on Jesus alone!!!
Yours for the only true eternal Foundation for life, “The Christ, the Son of the Living God,”
David
Father, thank You for always being faithful. You are our great rock, our fortress, and our deliverer. Help this country to turn to You. Guide our leaders, the reporters, and the voters to choose well and to do what is right in your sight. We ask in Jesus’s great name, amen
Amen!!
Agreeing with your prayer, Rob. God be merciful to us and to our great country!
Praying a blessing on all today, especially those who are facing physical, mental or emotional illnesses . I pray also for those who are mourning the loss of a loved one and those who are hurting in any way. May God come to their rescue! Amen!
Amen! to your prayers Rob and Luisa.
Please pray I will make the right medical
decisions for my son, thanks & God Bless.
Agreeing with your prayer, Rob
I take comfort in this scripture:
”’Romans 13:1-10 New International Version (NIV)
13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”’
No one gets elected except to ‘serve God’s purpose’.If we have ungodly leaders,it may be because of the apostasy of our nation.The solution is more prayer and reaching unbelievers.We must pray for our nation’s.God bless this blog
The Kingdom Is Ours
Oh,Lord,though we have sinned against You
And have done evil in your sight,
You still love us the ages through,
Withholding from us Your just might.
To each of us You have been a Friend,
Your guidance led those who would hear
And shown Your mercy has no end;
As we repent,you draw us near.
Lord,restore to us a right spirit,
For You have washed away our sin
And we know we’re not to fear it
When evil seeks to come within.
Oh,my Savoir,You are always true
And we want to walk in Your light
But there is one who will undo
And e’er seeks to bind us in fright.
Oh Lord,we know Your word is our shield
But relentless thoughts from the snake,
Seek to steal what we must not yield,
For the kingdom is ours to take.
G W(Bill) Marshall/13 Sept, 2015
Amen William!!
How uplifting to sing (Rock of Ages Cleft for me, let me Hide myself in You!”..
Lord Jesus, my desire is to hide myself in You, Amen!
In my morning devotions the scripture I read was “JOHN 15;1-16” THE VERSE THAT STOOD OUT was 15:16 “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you..”
this morning’s psalm affirms that Jesus is our Rock and our Foundation in Whom we can trust, Amen. Jesus I trust and lean on You! Amen!!
WOW that is SOME rock the monasteries are built on ! THANK YOU AGAIN, Reynold !
So uplifting to sing Rock of Ages Cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee!”
Yes Lord let me hide myself in Thee, Amen!!
In my morning devotions this is the scripture was John 15:1-16: the verse that stood out was 15:16a: “you have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you..”
Lord Jesus for choosing me to be Your child, Amen!
This morning scriptures affirmed that Jesus is The Rock of our salvation!
So uplifting to sing “Rock of Ages Cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee”
Love the hymn, Rock of Ages. Praying for Ann as she begins chemo. Also praying for Beatriz who has stage 3 & is taking chemo in the U.S. (very expensive—$25,000 for her treatment). Both ladies are Wonderful Christian ladies trusting God to bring them through.
Agreeing with your prayer for Ann and Beatriz
agreeing in prater with you fut Ann and Beatriz
Amen doreen!
Amen Doreen
In Israel today we go to the Jordan river I will be baptized. Jesus You are my rock.