Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
6 The nations are in an uproar; the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice; the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord;
see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end 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 am exalted among the nations;
I am exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Reflection Questions:
- Why do you think this person wrote this Psalm? What do you think their lives were like at the time they wrote it?
- How do you think this person came to the conclusion that they came to?
- What kind of pictures or imagery come to mind as you read it?
- What verses stand out to you?
- What questions come to mind as you read it? What questions do you have for God as you read it? (Try to come up with at least 1 question)
Active Response: The River of Life
There is a river of life whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
Imagine your life as a river. You will draw a river of your life as a prayer: as a way of listening and speaking to God. Draw a river from one edge to the other. This river won’t start at birth, but rather from about 3 years ago. In the middle somewhere, will be the present, and then final part of it will be the future. Draw your life over the last 3 years in the river.
- What were significant events (and yes, covid will be one of them)?
- What were tributaries – that is things that had influence that flowed into your life over the last 3 years: people, events, etc. that had impact in your life? (Some may be bigger, some may be smaller).
- You can make landmarks – islands in the river, objects along the river banks, obstructions to the flow, twists, etc. to represent the different people, places, events, in these past three years
- Ask God to reveal to you how God was with you during these times, how and what God spoke to you, where God blessed you, and even those moments where you might have felt far from God.
- When you come to the future part of your river, draw what your river might need for you to live into the fullness of life that God has created us for. Is it presence? rest? space? adventure? resources? relationships? Is there anything growing on the banks of the river? Does the river flow into bigger of body of water which is the future?
- Pray to God for these things as you look to the future.
Anchor & Hope Church 