The Rock Higher Than I

 Psalm 61:2
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

A popular church hymn, “The Rock That is Higher than I.” was written in 1871 by Erastus Johnson during a time of financial loss. Many have found financial security in the assets they have accumulated over the years, The want of food, shelter, and comfort is always available, and never denied. Their trust is no longer placed in God to supply their needs, they have put their trust in human strength and determination to achieve wealth and prosperity. There is no doubt that such virtues contribute to worldly success and gain, but history has taught us that God is in control, and He is sovereign, and is ultimately the One who is threading the fabric of life. Erastus Johnson realized this when all was lost, and He turned to the Rock who He knew would not sink. The Rock that was higher than the circumstance and struggles of the day. The world around us can change in a moment's notice, but God does not change, He is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. We can put our trust in Him, and stand on the solid rock. We can flee to the Rock that will not be shaken and will not move. When life is overwhelming, we serve a God who knows and understands our hurts and struggles. “To the Rock let me fly, to the Rock that is higher than I!”

Surrender to God

 Jame 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

The word surrender is not found in the Bible, it is a word normally used in battle when someone gives up their right to fight, and they become prisons of their captors. “Surrender to” is defined as a complete abandonment of oneself entirely to someone or something. Both definitions describe the word “Submit.” Much has been said about surrendering our heart, our lives to God. The term, “Sanctify yourself” used in the Bible also has implications of surrendering. To be set apart, to be used by God. We surrender all our hopes, ambitions, dreams, and wishes to God, and allow Him to use us in any way He pleases for His kingdom. We surrender our desires, and offer everything we have to God, “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God,”(Roman 6:13). When we consecrate ourselves to God, we have surrendered the life we have been living and have dedicated ourselves to serve God in whatever capacity He desires. We give up the old life of sin and present ourselves as a living sacrifice. Some would see this as giving up our freedom to do what we want to do. But the way of the transgressor is hard, and all that live in sin are in bondage to the flesh. As Christians, we are told to submit our lives daily to God, pick up our cross and follow Christ (Luke 9:23). Satan will tempt our flesh (members) to fulfill the lust of the flesh, but as we submit ourselves to God, and resist the temptation of Satan, he will flee. For the heart totally surrendered to Christ is empowered by the Holy Spirit to live unspotted by the world.

Flee Sin

 1 Peter 2:11
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
Dear loved ones, we are just passing through this life, we are not of this world. We are different, born again and now a part of the family of God. I admonish and urge you that you stay away from those things that cause your soul to become lean. Flee fleshly desires that grieve the Holy Spirit and will cause you to fall from the grace of God. Show the world that it is possible to live with a good conscience and not sin in word and deed. The world will see that your life is good and holy and will know that God is real. Let your light shine, so that others will see your good works, and see Christ in you.

He Will Never Leave Us

 Psalm 139: 9.10
 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;…Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

We are fearfully and wonderfully made by our heavenly Father. The apple of His eye, He will never leave us or forsake us. We may turn away from Him, or try to flee from His presence, but He pursues us with love and mercy. Like Jonah, we cannot hide from God. His Spirit entreated us to come to Him, to turn us into His loving arms. We may feel as if He has forsaken us and has left us to suffer in our troubles, but He is always there to hold us. His hand reaches to the four corners of the earth, desiring to hold us and comfort us. Whatever life has brought us, whatever we have done to cause us to walk away from Him, He will seek us and continue to love us regardless how often we fail Him or disappoint Him. Turn to Him, He wants to hold you tight.

Flee to the Rock

Psalm 6:2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

The cares of life have a way of overwhelming us. To others, the things we are facing may seem insignificant. The things that overwhelm us in perspective may not be as big as what others may be facing, but at the time, they are real and have an effect on our emotional and spiritual well being. Whether our hearts are overwhelmed with something small or something big, He is still our Rock. He is the unmovable Rock that will shield us from the storms of life that we face in life. He is the “Gibraltar” that will stand when all else is washed away. Flee to the Rock and let Him be your shield and keep you from being overwhelm with life’s cares.

Overcoming Temptation

1 Corinth 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

In the flesh, we are not able to stand against the temptation that Satan throws at us. If we think we can do this on our own, then we are just fooling ourselves. Yes, we have a choice and making the choice to say “No” to the flesh takes a strong constitution. In our own strength, we may be able to resist many choices that would lead us into sin, but Satan will exploit our weakness and will tempt us in times when we are most vulnerable. Fleeing to the cross and praying for strength to overcome temptation is a choice we make when the temptation is too much to bear. God is faithful to provide a way of escape that we can bear the temptation to give up or make a choice that will take us down a road that is destructive. Temptation is real, but we don’t face it alone, we have a friend that is closer than a brother, and He will provide a way of escape.

Run To Him

Prov. 18:10 “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it and is safe.”-

I remember as a new freshman at high school running home fearing for my life. It was customary and sad to say tradition to initiate incoming freshman to the school. So, every day I ran home to avoid being caught. Unfortunately, I was finally corner in the boy’s restroom. Satan is out as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He intimates, frightens, and pursues the righteous into doubting God. He chases many into a corner and causes them to make unwise decisions. He is a master of fear and will tempt us to give in to unbelief. But with every temptation, God has provided a way of escape. He is our tower of refuge. When Satan begins his chase, we but have to run to His tower of protection. God’s grace is available to all who will run to Him. We need not fear the enemy of our soul if we are abiding in God’s strong tower. 

Flee Temptation

Gen. 39:12 “And she caught him by his garment, saying, ‘Lie with me.’ And he left his garment in her hand and fled, and got himself out.”

Fleeing Temptation is often the most prudent thing to do when Satan presses hard on our desires to do something that would grieve the Lord. Just saying, “No” may not be enough to overcome, we must sometimes walk away and remove ourselves for the appearance of evil. Being tempted is not sin and it does not mean that you are a sinful person. Satan takes natural desires that God has given us and perverts them. Our desire for material goods, to be loved and accepted are all things that God desires for us. “All these things shall be added unto you” are His words. Temptation would not be temptation if we did not desire it. God wants to fulfill the desires of our heart, mind, body and soul. He knows what we want and will give us what we need in His time.