If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Who or what do I take refuge in? Is it in someone who provides for me? How about a job I feel very competent in? Do I trust my home to keep me safe?

The Psalmist here says we are to take our primary refuge and place our full trust in the Lord. This is not always an easy thing to do, because it requires trusting God and standing up for his truth in situations that are challenging or may have unknown outcomes. However, there are benefits as well.

He will command his angels to watch over us. The Elite Angelic Protection Force is not a force of misfits or immature warriors. They engage in spiritual battles that are much more fierce than our physical battles here on earth. Remember that one destroying angel killed all the firstborn Egyptians when God judged them. As well, one angel made a whole garrison of Roman so afraid that they were in a state of shock right before Jesus rose from the dead.

Not only the angels are added for our protection. The Lord says that he personally will rescue and protect us when we acknowledge his name. He will answer our calls to him, he will be with us in trouble, he will honor us and give us long life. And best of all, he will show us his salvation. This salvation will be fully recognized when Jesus returns. And it is also shown to us as we follow him. As we are serving the Lord, we are being sanctified and his Spirit is saving us as we go. We see his salvation evidenced in the conversion of others who trust in him too.

Lord, I decide to place my confidence, my hope, and my security in no one or nothing but you and you alone. You are worthy of my trust and my devotion. I run to you when I am worn down, attacked, fearful or worried and you give me all I need. I run to you when I need work or food or help in relationships and you provide just what I need. You love me and so I can trust you.