Sanctuary

“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart” (Psalm 91:4, NIV).

The Lord is my sanctuary–a place of safe retreat. He is not only my refuge from life's greatest fears, but He is my refuge from my own self. I may be able to retreat from others, but I can never hide from myself–from my own failures, my sins, my weaknesses, and my own limitations. Sometimes there seems to be no relief in the battlefield of my mind. But in the early morning hours I read this verse, and discover that He is my sanctuary. He is my shield and rampart. He hides me under His wings until I forget my limitations, and my failures–until my own sins are washed away and remembered no more. He hides me until sweet relief from my own sense of failure and shortcomings fills my heart. He hides me until the relief of His grace brings great joy. In that moment of complete relief, I have released all that I have been to Him. His Spirit sweeps over me. Praise flows, and His strength to conquer inhabits all of me. I can rise to win the battles that daily come against me. There is no fear in His perfect love. I am completely and amazingly free.