Stand on the Rock
by Christel Baxter
One of the special characteristics of God to me personally is the fact that He’s referred to in the Bible as our rock: ‘He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God Who does no wrong, upright and just is He’ (Deuteronomy 32:4). One of my life-scriptures that I often quote and go back to in difficult seasons is Psalm 18:1-2: ‘I love You, LORD, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold’.
As I read Exodus 33 in my quiet time recently, I felt such a wonderful peace fill my heart. Moses was having a face-to-face conversation with God after the Israelites had sinned against God by worshipping the Golden Calf. Moses was desperate for God’s Presence not to abandon them. He asked God to show His glory to him (Exodus 33:18). But verse 21 is so beautiful, because the Lord invites Moses to stand near Him on a rock. Some translations of verse 21 say, ‘there is a place beside me’.
Whenever God invites us closer we can be certain that the place near Him – beside Him – is a firm, secure and solid place. It is a rock. Even when everything around us or inside us feels insecure, shaky and uncertain, His presence - being near Him - brings an inner peace and stability that silences the lies of the enemy and the shouts of the world. It restores crooked perspectives and renders all the unanswered questions insignificant, because the great I AM, the One who holds the stars in place, stills the doubts and fears with His comforting presence. Our strength is found in intimacy with Him.
Looking towards the future may cause a variety of emotions inside us – from anxiety to great expectation and hope. Knowing that we have a secure place that we can escape to, draw strength from and find refuge in, should fill our hearts with peace. I’m encouraged to stay close to God and to take Him up on His invitation to stand on that rock, that firm and safe place near Him.
Prayer: Father, thank You that You’re my Rock, my Fortress and my Deliverer – my secure place for whatever I may face in the year ahead. Thank You that You invite me to be near to You, and that You make the crooked places straight. I choose to rest in You. Amen.
Christel Baxter joined the Associate prayer ministry team at Shere House, S.Africa in 2008 after attending the 20 day school. Besides serving together on the associate team at Shere House, Christel & her husband, Gary, pastor New Life Ministries, a congregation in Boksburg, Gauteng. Their children, Liezl and Wesley, are both married, and they adore their son-in-law and daughter-in-law and their little granddaughter, Hannah! Christel is passionate about seeing broken lives restored and especially loves ministering God`s love and healing to women of all ages.
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