To be a human being is to be stained glass—beautiful in our brokenness, but a collection of many parts nonetheless. Someone once wrote, “You are every age you have ever been.” They were speaking poetically but also naming something literal. You...
READ MOREWritten centuries ago by St. Patrick, this is a profound and simple prayer for protection. We find ourselves returning to again and again:
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity.
Through...
Jesus sustains all creation by the mighty power of his command. Obviously, or Satan would have torn all creation to pieces long ago. Jesus—through whom all things were made—is currently, at this moment, holding all things together; he sustains...
READ MOREWe are seeking refuge as ordinary mystics growing into mature mystics who recognize that the refuge of God is dynamic and requires our participation—as when we consecrate our lives to God daily, when we stay in the truth, or when we crush the...
READ MOREIn Deuteronomy and in Hebrews we are reminded that our God is a jealous God, a consuming fire:
Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the...
READ MORELove is something we are going to have to firmly protect.
Now here is the problem—as soon as I say the word “love,” many different things come to your heart and mind.
Oh great, now I have to take care of everyone.
I guess I...
For you bless the godly, O LORD; you surround them with your shield of love.
–King David
You are safe and secure in the refuge of God. That is the major theme.
The minor theme is the war raging outside, which we...
READ MORERemember now—we are maturing in our understanding of how we actively participate as ordinary mystics in God as our refuge and stronghold; these passages are critical to God’s provision for us. “Trampling and crushing” are active and...
READ MORELet’s return to that gripping scene in the Judean wasteland. Imagine Jesus walking around his desert camp, fasting, praying, quoting Scripture, and no doubt declaring aloud Psalm 91, “El Shaddai is my refuge and fortress ...”
It’s...
READ MOREThe spiritual warfare of the hour we are living in is no different than what Patrick and his disciples faced. It might be worse because of the lateness of the hour, and it can be withering when you are under it. In those desolate moments, when my...
READ MORELet me suggest for you one practice that is sustainable and very fruitful: the daily declaration, or proclamation, of essential truths. Returning to Psalm 91, notice the importance of the second verse:
Those who live in the shelter of the...
READ MOREMore corrosive than all of these are the personal assaults of the enemy’s lies whispered to our hearts. They are far more brilliant than AI and utterly precise in their tailored messages to us. The evil one knows your story, your hurts and fears...
READ MORE“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1). Our bodies are a very practical expression of...
READ MOREThe mighty refuge psalm, Psalm 91, has a progression to it. First comes the promise:
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Then, a recitation of the many...
“Turn to God with all your heart,” wrote Thomas à Kempis, “and Christ will come to you.” First thing every morning, I pray something like this before I do anything else:
I run to you this morning, Father. I run to you this morning,...
READ MOREOne of my favorite Gospel stories takes place on Easter morning; it centers around Mary Magdalene. Heartbroken, devastated, Mary has gone to the tomb of Jesus to grieve, but his body is no longer there. Most of you have experienced grief; it is...
READ MOREDavid was a hunted man. He often had to hide in severe wilderness conditions from his pursuers, who would kill him in an instant if they found him, just like many persecuted people groups today.
Harriet Tubman had to hide from her enemies...
READ MOREWhen the author of Psalm 91 invites us to take refuge in the shelter of the Most High, where does he have in mind? What actual place in the actual universe are we invited to?
The word for “shelter” in the opening verse (“Those who live in...
READ MOREWe don’t know much about stages of development in our instant culture. We have someone else make our coffee for us. We no longer have to wait to have our photos developed — not even an hour — for now we have digital cameras that deliver back to...
READ MORETwice, the refuge of God is described in terms of rescue, or deliverance:
“I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble....