In the past few devotionals I have said that the battle is waged from a place of stillness. When I say “battle,” I’m speaking about the personal and spiritual battles we face.

Whenever we have to face hardships, we want to do so from a place that is calm, focused, rested and ready. It might not always be possible, but it’s certainly something to shoot for.

David had his fair share of battles. And yet, in Psalm 131:2 he said: “I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother…”

I think that statement suggests yet another way we can calm and quiet our souls. We can set up camp within a God who loves, provides, and equips us.

Let’s first look at the words “loves,” “provides,” and “equips.” First, in Christ you are loved. You are loved ferociously! Second, God provides for you. He is taking care of you in ways beyond your knowing. Third, he equips you to serve and glorify him. 

This should be a source of deep-down assurance.

Next, how do we “set up camp” within that God? We get close. We put down roots. We raise a flag. We commit. 

More tangibly, we proactively engage in practices which remind us about (and nurture us in) the realities of his love, provision and equipping. 

These practices are stabilising pillars in our lives. Weekly worship. Daily prayer and Bible reading. Regular servant-hood. Consistent Christian fellowship.

If we don’t have these things our lives don’t tend to have godly structure. We’re tumbleweeds on a highway (which is basically the opposite of calm and quiet).

What would you rather do? Peer over the fence at the camp of Almighty God feeling distant and aloof, or be near and dear within his walls?

Set. Up. Camp.

The battle is waged from a place of stillness.

To help with that, set up camp within a God who loves, provides, and equips you.

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Notes:

—New Video: “The Beginning is Nigh.” This 3.5 minute video is an introduction I put together for a new teaching series on 1st and 2nd Thessalonians. It begins on September 10, 2023. Click here to watch.

–The Up Devotional is published 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) and returns on September 11, 2023.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.