Facing the Battles with God

Hello again and welcome. Our Daily Bread would like to encourage you today with a reading titled, Facing the Battles with God, by Arthur Jackson. The heroic deeds of U.S. Army soldier Desmond Doss are featured in the 2016 movie, Hacksaw Ridge. While Doss' convictions wouldn't allow him to take human life, as an Army medic he committed himself to preserving life, even at the risk of his own. The citation read at Doss' Medal of Honor ceremony on October 12, 1945, included these words, Private First Class Doss refused to seek cover and remained in the fire swept area with the many stricken, carrying them one by one to the edge of the escarpment.

He unhesitatingly braved enemy shelling and small arms fire to assist an artillery officer. In Psalm 11, David's conviction that his refuge was in God compelled him to resist suggestions to flee rather than face his foes. Six simple words comprised his statement of faith. In the Lord, I take refuge.

That well-rooted conviction would guide his conduct. David's words in verses 4 through 7 amplified God's greatness. Yes, life can sometimes be like a battlefield, and hostile fire can send us scattering for cover when we're bombarded with health challenges or financial, relational, and spiritual stresses. So what should we do? Acknowledge that God is the King of the universe, take delight in his amazing capacity to judge with precision, and rest in his delight in what's right, fair, and equitable. We can run swiftly to God for shelter.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is Psalm 11. In the Lord, I take refuge. How then can you say to me, Flee like a bird to your mountain? For look, the wicked bend their bows, they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.

When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do? The Lord is in his holy temple. The Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth.

His eyes examine them. The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion. On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur.

A scorching wind will be their lot. For the Lord is righteous. He loves justice.

The upright will see his face. Now let's pray. Almighty God, thank you for being our refuge and strength. Though we can look back on the trials in our life, we can see you in them, carrying us and sustaining us. When we are facing difficult times as we often do, please remind us of your faithfulness in the past and assure us that you will never leave us or forsake us and will carry us through. Thank you, Father. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.