Be Thou My Strong Habitation

 

 

In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.

 

Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou has given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

 

Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel men.

 

For thou art my hope, O Lord God; thou art my trust from my youth.

 

By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.

 

I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.

 

Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honor all the day.

 

Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

 

For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,

 

Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.

 

O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.

 

Psalm 71:1-12

 

This is the fifteenth anniversary of 911.

 

When encountering terrible threats, David asked God for help. He wanted to be assured of God’s nearness as he faced enemies in battle. “Do not be far from me, my God; come quickly, God, to help me.

 

We aren’t promised deliverance from every difficult situation we face. But we can be confident that God hears our prayers and will walk alongside us through everything.

 

Stanley Praimnath was working on the 81st floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center when he saw an airplane flying directly toward him. Stanley prayed a quick prayer as he dove under a desk for protection. “Lord, I can’t do this! You take over!” As he prayed and cried another worker heard him, Brian Clark. Both of them made their way through rubble and darkness, and they found their way down 80 flights of stairs to the ground floor and out.

 

Nearness to God is our conscious security. A child in the dark is comforted by grasping its father’s hand.

 

Our Daily Bread – September 11, 2016