https://esv.literalword.com/?q=psalm+61
Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Sunday, 2 March 2025:
Psalm 61:2 – From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
“David teaches us that we can call out to God at any time and from any place because—no matter where we are—we’re near to God. No matter how far you may have wandered from God, it only takes one step to get back to Him.
Perhaps you feel overwhelmed today. You don’t know where to turn. Come to the Rock that is higher than you: Jesus Christ will deliver and strengthen you. He will lead you to a place of victory. Then you will be able to say with David, He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock … many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord (Psalm 40:2-3b). That’s what God wants to do for you.
Don’t Box God In
When we pray by the Spirit, we don’t insist that God answer our prayers the same way each time. David understood this. When he was fighting against the Philistines, God’s Spirit led him to victory in different ways. Once, the Lord told him to wait beside some mulberry trees and then go to battle, allowing the Lord to smite them first (1 Chronicles 14:13-15).
Continue to seek God through prayer, realizing that He may want to lead you in a totally new way.
When God works in a certain way, we might assume we have God’s methods down pat, so we don’t bother to pray for His direction. David had enough wisdom to know that, although he would face the same enemy, he needed to inquire of the Lord again. “Shall we go out against them again?” he asks at a later time. God answers, in essence, No, not this time around. I’ve got a different plan.
God is not confined to one method. We should never follow patterns simply because they worked in the past. Continue to seek God through prayer, realizing that He may want to lead you in a totally new way.
Don’t Be in a Hurry
David didn’t always listen to or ask for the counsel of God. When King Saul chased him around Israel, seeking to take his life, David reached a point of despair where he said, “There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines” (1 Samuel 27:1b). What a false conclusion! In reality, there is nothing better for you than to submit yourself totally to the will of God in prayer. David allowed his fear to weaken his faith.
The word “speedily” gives us insight into David’s mindset. The enemy often pressures us to take the quick way: “Hurry. Don’t think. Don’t ponder the consequences.” How many times has this tactic landed you in trouble? Instead of being hurried and living with regret, commit the issue to God in Spirit-soaked prayer and wait on His answer.
Trust in His Will
An Old Testament prophet named Hanani gave me an insight into God that revolutionized my own prayer life: For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9a).
God wants to do a work. He is simply searching for people who are in harmony with His will. We mistakenly try to direct the flow of the Spirit. We build the channels and then say, “Okay, Lord, now flow through this channel.” It would be far wiser to find out where the Spirit is flowing and get in that flow. God is looking for people who are in harmony with His purposes. Then He channels His resources through them, and their lives become rich and blessed.
We can never go wrong by putting our whole trust in the Lord, who always answers our prayers according to His gracious, loving nature. So let us continue to pray fervently in faith, wholeheartedly trusting God—and then leave the outcome to Him.” (Calvary Chapel Magazine)
“Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.” Salvation is in Christ alone.
- 1 Corinthians 3:11 — For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
- Matthew 7:24-27 — “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
- 1 Corinthians 10:4 — …and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.
- 1 Peter 2:4 — As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious….
- Deuteronomy 32:4 — “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.
Psalm 61:8 — So will I ever sing praises to your name, as I perform my vows day after day.
True love for God causes you to praise Him and obey Him.
Worship God, not just in song, ceremony, or sacrifice, but, more importantly, it is shown in humility and fidelity. Worship not just in spirit but in “truth,” in deed. The Savior isn’t your savior until He is your lord, until you submit to His sovereignty. Jesus must be you LORD and Savior. Why sing his praises if you won’t perform your vows day after day? “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46)
Commitments without action are lies to self and to God. Integrity comes from follow-through.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 2 March 2025: Today, praise God joyfully while you obey Him faithfully, despite the personal sacrifice required.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 