Shelter
This fresh set of Daily Devotions is being provided for our LCA/NZ family, friends and visitors to help us to keep our eyes on Jesus as we face unsettling times. They can be used by families and individuals as part of the LCA/NZ’s Church@Home resources to encourage us and build trust in our Heavenly Father during this season of uncertainty and physical isolation.
by Ruth Olsen
Click here for your printable verse to carry with you today.
This is the first devotion in a series of seven based on Psalm 91:1–8.
‘Those who live in the shelter of the Most High …’ (Psalm 91:1).
Where do you live?
The NIV uses the word ‘dwell’ in this verse. The Macquarie Dictionary has the associated meaning of ‘live’ as ‘to dwell or reside’, and for ‘dwell’ it says ‘to abide as a permanent resident’. To ‘dwell’ has a sense of engaging more fully and deeply, with roots that go down, permanent, anchored. I have lived in many different locations, but it has taken time for my ‘roots’ to start going down before I could say that I ‘dwell’ there.
My Study Bible has a cross-reference from ‘shelter’ to Exodus 33:22. Moses asked the Lord to show him his glory (Exodus 33:12–23). The Lord said, ‘OK … but no-one may see me and live … I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by …’ (Exodus 33:18,20,22). The Lord provided and gave shelter to Moses. There is trust and intimacy in that relationship. He does the same for us in and through his beloved son, Jesus!
Now in these times of current upheaval, we have opportunity to grow in trusting, and thereby knowing, the Lord as our shelter in and through Jesus. I join in Paul’s prayer, ‘that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith … that [we] being rooted and established in love may … grasp … and know …’ (Ephesians 3:16–19).
Lord, help my roots go down deeper in you. Amen.
- Click here to read previous devotions.
- We are also posting them on LCA Facebook, making it easy for you to share them with family and friends.
- Sign up to receive Daily Devotion in your inbox every morning. If you’re already doing that, please encourage others to sign up. Click here for the link.
