Psalm 46:5

Today is Monday so begin by reviewing Psalms 1, 23 and 121.




Psalm 46:5
God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.

Take a moment to review the first 4 verses again and then add on today's verse.

Why will the city of God not fall?  Why will we not fall?  Who will help us?

God is with us.  That is why we do not need to be afraid.

Psalm 46 - Review Day

Spend today reviewing Psalm 46:1-4

V5 tomorrow!

Psalm 46:4

Psalm 46:4
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.

Begin your day by reviewing the first 3 verses from Psalm 46.

Now add on v4.  Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Look for moments in your day where your hands are busy but your mind is idle.  Grasp the opportunity to redeem the time.  You'll be amazed how much scripture you're capable of memorizing this way!

The menacing sea has now changed into a river in the city of God.  Has your ocean of grief turned into a life-giving stream?  If it hasn't yet, it will.  Maybe here on earth, but guaranteed on the New Earth!  There IS a river like that - God has promised it in this verse.

Tomorrow will be a review day,

Psalm 46:3

Psalm 46:3
though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

Start your day by reviewing the first 2 verses of the psalm.

Then add today's verse.  So far they've all been relatively short, which makes it easier!  Repeat, repeat, repeat. Find times in your day to review this verse and redeem the time.

This verse again speaks of nature raging and the fact that despite the troubles that will come, we can find our shelter in God, always.

Psalm 46:2

Psalm 46:2
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

Review yesterday's verse first - do you know it?

Now add on today's verse - repeat, repeat, repeat.

Today's verse is a continuation of yesterday's verse.

Therefore.

Because God is our refuge and strength, because God is an ever-present help - we do not have to fear, even in the face of natural disaster.  This doesn't mean the natural disasters won't occur - but when they do, God is our source of refuge and strength amidst that storm.  God is greater than our circumstances.

How has God been an ever-present help to you in times of big or small trouble in your life?

Redeem the time today by reflecting on and memorizing this verse.

Psalm 46:1

Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Repeat, repeat, repeat!  There is no secret to scripture memorization except simple repetition.

Find moments throughout your day where your hands are busy but your mind is idle, and redeem that time by filling your mind and soul with the very words of God.  While you're making school lunches, while you're waiting at a red light, while you're at the doctor's office, while you're sweeping the floor, while vacuuming, while cleaning toilets!  Redeem the time.

The intent of this psalm is to inspire hope amidst the storms of life.  And it's inspired a few very well known hymns and worship songs as well. (A Mighty Fortress is our God and Be Still My Soul)

This verse reminds us that the source of hope, the source of our strength is God.  You cannot survive the storms of life on your own.  You need to rely on Him and His power.  And what's awesome about it is that it is always there.  God's help is ever-present.  He never takes a day off or is too busy to help you.  Always!

Psalm 46 starts tomorrow

OK, we're back from vacation and I'm ready to get going again.  Hopefully you have Psalm 23 ingrained in your memory.  If you're just joining us, feel free to start where we are, or go back and memorize anything we've done previously, it's totally up to you.  Don't worry about catching up, that would be overwhelming and likely lead to you quitting. Just pick up where we are, or do your own thing.  The important thing is that you are hiding His Word in your heart.

So I've decided to do Psalm 46 next.  I think after this we'll move into the New Testament, but we won't do a whole book again right away - we'll do 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter.

FYI - I use the NIV (1984) for memorization.  You may feel free to use another version, just know that the verses I quote are from that translation.

With that being said, write out Psalm 46 in your spiral notebook, or get it ready on your iPhone, or whatever you're using that works with your lifestyle.  We start tomorrow!

Psalm 46

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. Selah

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. Selah

⁸ Come and see the works of the Lord, 
    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 “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. Selah

Interesting story from John Piper and how/why he chose to memorize Psalm 46.......

My first or second year of pastoring I was called to the hospital—quickly. I went without my Bible. Rollin Erickson's wife just had a heart attack. I walk into a room of probably 20 family members that didn't know if she was alive or dead—as she is in surgery. Rollin gave me a big hug and said, "John, give us a Word from the Lord." Now, if I had my Bible I would have opened it to a Psalm or something. I didn't have my Bible, and for whatever reason at age 35 my mind went blank.

I felt so humiliated. It was horrible. Here are 20 people, and the husband of a dying woman says, "Give us a Word from the Lord." I can't even remember what I said. I probably said, "Let's pray," and tried to paraphrase some Scripture. I went home and got on my knees that afternoon. I said, "Lord Jesus, that will never happen again." I opened to Psalm 46—"God is our refuge and strength." I have been able to quote Psalm 46 verbatim for the last 28 years. I decided that Psalm 46 is going to be in my head because it is so useful all the time.