Psalm 91:3-4 says this:

“Surely [God] will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” [A rampart is a protecting wall.]

Save you. Cover you. Refuge. Shield. Rampart. These words speak of the intense care that God has for us personally in times of trial and tribulation.

Reflecting on these verses, the great thinker John Calvin said this: “Since [God] condescends in such a gracious manner to our weakness, surely there is nothing to prevent us from coming to him with the greatest freedom.”

When Calvin uses the word “condescends,” he’s not using it in the negative sense we often use it today. What he means is that God lovingly comes to our level and meets us there in order to help us. And that should (a) convince us of God’s personal and attentive care for us and (b) compel us to bring our concerns to God with greater eagerness and freedom.

Because of this, here’s a question I think you need to ask: What personal and private thoughts and challenges do you need to talk to God about?

Sure, it’s good to talk to God in general terms asking for help and strength. But I think you need to talk to God with greater eagerness and freedom about your personal and private thoughts and challenges as well.

Ask God to be powerfully present, even if you think the things in your personal and private thoughts are small. After all, what we think is small is sometimes big.

Save you. Cover you. Refuge. Shield. Rampart. These words speak of the intense care that God has for us personally in times of trial and tribulation.

What personal and private thoughts and challenges do you need to talk to God about?

By Matthew Ruttan

–After May 27th, “Up!” will go on pause for a week while I spend some dedicated time for study. It will resume on June 3.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.