Welcome to Day 2 for a short powerful devotion from our 30 Psalms For Anxiety, Fear, Worry, And Depression bible plan. This short devotional is from Psalm 18:1-2.
Read Psalm 18:1-2 (Click on the Psalm if you would like to see other translations of these verses)
Psalm 18 was also written by David. David loved the Lord with his whole heart. He uses wonderful military metaphors to describe his relationship with Him. David knows God as his rock, his fortress, and his savior.
David wrote this song of deliverance on the day that God rescued him "on the day when the Lord rescued him from the hand of all his enemies, from the hand of Saul" (beginning of Psalm chapter 18). He describes God's faithful character with the words, 'shield', power, and says that God is his place of safety.
David was saying that God is all he needs to survive all life's battles. David uses various descriptive words to describe God as his hiding place. David was well acquainted with hiding places. When David was a shepherd boy he would have known the relief he would find from the heat of the sun from the shade of a rock. He would also have known the safety a strong fortress could provide during a battle, just as a shield could help protect him on the battlefield when he was involved in many military battles.
Join me as we unpack the treasure in these verses that will calm your anxiety and remind you that the Lord is your rock, He is your deliverer, and that God is your fortress. Join me in prayer too at the bottom of this post.
Short Devotional: God Is My Fortress
Do you know God as your fortress?
Are you facing a big trial or mountain in your life that seems too enormous to move?
Today, picture in your mind what a fortress looks like. Think of a castle with its thick strong walls and that the only entryway is through the gate which is strongly secured. Do you think that you would feel safe there inside the castle walls?
What does it mean to say that," God is my fortress?"
The definition of a fortress is a secured and strong place, for example, a wall made out of stone that protects a city. A fortified place; a large and permanent fortification, sometimes including a town; a fort; a castle; a stronghold; a place of defense or security.
Just like David knew God as his fortress, you can too. Write Psalm 18:1-2 on cards or paper and place them around you so that you can be constantly be reminded that God is your fortress. He is your deliverer. Pray this psalm out loud. You will feel your heart strengthened and hope will creep into your anxious heart.
I have done this and just recalling scripture to mind really makes you feel that you are carrying a shield into battle. God is our fortress. He is a place of refuge and safety that the enemy cannot penetrate. Keep in mind our illustration of the castle with the gate tightly shut.
God is my fortress.
God shelters you with His presence when you are overwhelmed with fearful emotions or anxiety. He shields your mind in whatever battle that you are facing. To avail of God's fortification, you need to spend time in His presence, reading God's word, praying scripture, and trusting that God keeps His word and promises to you. And you need to do this with a heart full of expectation (we talked about this in yesterdays devotional)
Do you know God as your shelter?
Spend some time in His presence and consider that question.
What is God saying to you through Psalm 18:1-2?
Bible affirmation:
Remember today that-
God is your fortress.
The Lord is your rock and shield.
God is your deliverer.
Download our free guided prayer journal specifically designed for our 30 Psalms challenge or use a notebook to answer the above questions.
Scripture prayer:
Join me in praying Psalm 18:1-2.
Thank you Father, that You are my rock and shield. I am safe in the fortress of Your presence. Help me to run to You immediately when I feel overwhemed and have anxious thoughts. I am safe hidden in you. Help me to trust You more and give me deeper understanding of what it means that Jesus is my savior. Amen.
Other encouraging bible verses reminding us that God is your fortress:
Psalm 62:6 , Psalm 91:1-16 , Philippians 4:13. Click on the verses and they will open up in a new tab. for you to read.
Related Resources:
You will find the 30 Psalms For Anxiety, Fear, Worry, And Depression bible plan HERE It will have the list of 30 Bible verses that we are using for 30 days for our bible challenge.
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xx Karen.