FaithSteps Family Devotions                    "God is Our Fortress" 

Talk about how God has been a rock/refuge in your life. Talk about a few times when you have turned to God?

There have been many times in my life when it seemed like a storm was raging around me. Sometimes it was because there were actual storms happening that came with tornadoes. In those times, I prayed for God to protect me and keep me safe. I prayed for Him to calm my fears and remind me that He is always there with me. Other times, there weren’t actual storms, but it seemed like everything was falling apart. My friends were mad at me or I couldn’t do something well or I didn’t make the team. Whatever it was, life wasn’t great. And in those times, just like with the actual storms, I prayed, asking God to be with me, to keep me safe, and to remind me that He is always there. God is our rock and our strength, a refuge and a strong fortress for us. 

Read Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16. From the New International Version: “In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth…My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.”

Have you ever seen a fortress? They are usually castles and they are built out of rock. When you look at them, they look imposing and like they would be hard to get into. Sometimes there are moats (a river of water in front of it) so that it’s impossible to get to the door unless the drawbridge is let down. There are places where archers would shoot arrows at enemies trying to attack. It’s hard to get into a fortress if the person in the fortress doesn’t want you there. When I read Psalm 31, it reminds me of these fortresses. Our God is our fortress, a strong fortress to save us. God protects us with His love. In a fortress, you are safe. Things can attack but the walls will hold. It’s the same with God. No matter what happens, no matter who is mean to you or what you do, no matter what, nothing can ever separate you from God. The walls will hold because God has you in the palm of His hands. Does that mean you’ll never get hurt? No, it doesn’t. You may break your arm or your leg. You will be heartbroken at some point. And someday, you will die. This is true for all of us. But no matter what, God will always be there for you. He will always have you in the palm of His hand. Nothing can ever separate you from God. He is your fortress and He will protect you. So when you are afraid, pray and ask for Him to calm your fears. When bad things happen, pray and ask for help. God will lead you in the way you should go and He will save you.

• Ask your children to talk about times when they have needed God to be their rock or refuge. What happened? How did they feel after they prayed?
• Google pictures of fortresses and talk about how fortresses are designed to protect the people inside them. Talk about how God protects us and how we never face things on our own.
• Talk about people in your lives who may need to know that God can be their rock/refuge/fortress. How can you help them see that God can be their rock?

Pray, asking God to help you remember that He is always there. Ask Him for His peace.  

Jessica Asbell Oravec has served as Minister to Children at First Baptist Roswell since July 2012.  In October 2016, she became Minister to Children and Families. Jessica has served in various capacities in children’s ministry since 2004, when she was an intern at Highland Hills Baptist Church in Macon, Georgia.  Jessica earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree from Mercer University and a Master of Divinity in Christian Education from the McAfee School of Theology. Jessica was ordained at First Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia and previously served as Associate Pastor for Children and Families at Winter Park Baptist Church in Wilmington, North Carolina.   In her spare time, she writes curriculum and loves to read.