Morning Devotional 032025 Love and Peace

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

  March 20, 2025

Psalm 46:1-11

1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3  though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 8 Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Good Morning. God is our refuge and strength!

David captures the full scope of God in this psalm. David paints the love, the power, the compassion, and the mercy of God in a myriad of words to engage the senses. 

I am reminded of Elijah standing at the entrance of the cave, looking for God in the earthquake, fire, and great winds, but the voice of God came in the silence that followed.

Have you ever been in a crowd waiting for an event to start? Sometimes, the organizer or leader tries to be louder than the crowd. This simply adds to the cacophony of sounds filling the space, and the noise of the crowd continues. 

It is irritating and painful to my senses when I see or hear the awful attempts to overcome the noise, such as shouting, shrill sounds, the clanging of bells, the pounding of a gavel, or, worse yet, the banging on the microphone.

Interestingly, the most powerful sound in the room is silence or even a very soft sound of speaking or an instrument. As the people strain to hear, they get quiet, and suddenly, the group is ready to listen. 

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

These words comfort my soul and prepare a space within me to listen and engage in the presence of God. When the chaos is closing in on you, allow yourself to enter the liminal space and find the peace that God offers to all who call on His Holy name. 

Loving Lord, Maker of all things! Our lives are filled with chaos. Thank you for offering your love and peace when we are overwhelmed by the noise. Thank you. We love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: God is faithful, and we can trust God to provide for our good.

Be Still and Know! Pastor Liz