“Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God. Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.” (Psalm 119:114-116)
My hiding place is with God and His Word, the Bible. We come to Him for wisdom from on high and bask in His awesome presence as we pray. Jesus is our shield and our fortress. The enemy has no power over those who are in Christ Jesus. Our Hope is in Jesus. Everything else will eventually let us down in this life. However, God’s mercy endures forever. His grace is sufficient for anyone who has strayed. We need a map to keep us upright and following Jesus. Thankfully, we have the Bible in our midst. God’s Words are a lamp unto our feet. There is light in our lives when we read and study the Bible, along with praying. In our study, we learn that God will tell every person who practices unbelief and willful sin to depart from me. Those who are called evildoers are also the enemies of God. These are those who will die and go to hell. They will have wished they could repent and come to Jesus while they had time.
Those who are for God also keep His commandments. They are not burdensome to them, but are a part of their everyday lives. These are those who are born again, as the Holy Spirit is with them. This life is challenging, and we need God’s presence to help us on a daily basis. This is to uphold us, give us rest, and peace, that we might not fall. A life in Christ means we don’t willfully sin. So our daily walk is different as we are no longer a Sunday Christian. What we watch is different. What we listen to is different. What we consume is different. What we think about is different. And what we do with others is different. Only God can set us apart for His kingdom. People cannot do these things, but lead us to God, who is capable. I am not ashamed of my testimony in Jesus. I was empty before I came to Him, but now my life is made full. Jesus with me and my hope is in Him. He gives me strength. God be the glory. Amen.
