Greetings Mt. Vernon Family,

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, Psa. 46:1.

Refuge is a place we go for safety. Typically, we think of a country being at war and its citizens seeking safety in another country. But where do you seek refuge in a pandemic that has touched virtually every corner of the earth. In psalm 46:1, the psalmist tells us that our refuge is not a place but a person, God. It is imperative that we not only run to God for safety, but we must follow Him closely as our Shepherd. God will never leave us or forsakes us. Are we mindful of His presence with us? The psalmist says, God is a very present help in trouble. In our bible study book, Do It Afraid, Joyce Meyer notes God calls Godself, “I AM,” not “I was,” or “I will be.” God is fully present with us every moment of the day. God is accessible, easily found in our times of trouble. But are we fully present with God? Does God have our undivided attention? We must practice His presence by developing holy habits, such prayer, bible study, meditation, worship, and fasting. As we grow accustom to living fully in God’s presence, our hope is renewed, and our past regrets and fears of the future simply fade. We are made for miracles!

Amen.

Be Richly Blessed,

Pastor Deborah Giles