I have plans for you, declares the Lord.

 

The Lord’s plan is to lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Psalms 61: 1 – 3 -  Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.  From the ends of the earth, I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I! For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. 

The poet cries out to the Lord from a place where his heart is growing faint and a place where he needs a strong tower against his enemies. We know the Lord’s intentions for us are always to lead us to a space that is the best for us. What we do not know, is what the journey to victory will entail.

Psalm 61 encourages prayer, a cry before God, as a source of help, of strength and of winning the battles on our way. Although we in faith know that we will win the “war” - we often are concerned about the battles.

 

As our hearts grow faint, we will call, we will cry and beg our God to listen to our plea and provide for us in the battles of every day. But, we do need a place to hide under certain circumstances: a strong tower for defence and a tent for resting and refuge. God is our tower of refuge and strength.

 

We need a high rock, a firm place, from where we will secure victory!

Fighting with sword and shield requires a high place, a steadfast rock and the advantage of height and a good view of the enemy. We need a place to dig in, to recover, turn the fight around and catch up even while it feels as if we are losing.

 

And God is much more than a place to hide from an enemy. He also provides the higher rock from where we will launch the victory.

Jesus is our Rock! In Christ only do we make our stand!

Our experience shows that although we know the Lord Jesus to be our sure salvation in all our needs, we often struggle to come to him, because of our many doubts, fears and hesitations. A Saviour would have been of no use to us if the Holy Spirit had not gently led us to him and enabled us to rest on him. We often feel that we not only need a rock, but a dire need to be led to him, Jesus our Redeemer.

 

May our Lord lead you to the higher Rock by his Spirit to fight your battles, as our God, in Jesus Christ, already won the war.