​7 Ways to ‘Dwell Secure’ in Uncertain Times

I have long loved the 16th psalm. At one point, I had it memorized but hadn’t meditated on it for a few years. So when I began digging into it again this week, I realized, again, how profound it is, how pertinent for these times when we can feel so insecure.

The flux of a pandemic and its fallout, political tensions and racial injustice have made us wonder, if we are truly honest, who is really in control. Psalm 16 is a reassurance of all we hold most dear in our faith in Jesus.

Here are 7 ways it instructs us in how to ‘dwell secure’:

1. Take Refuge in God (verse 1): For every look we take at the news, we need to take 100 looks at the unchanging nature of God. His promises are ‘yes and amen’ in Jesus. Every one of the things he has planned for us, our nation, our world, will happen in His timing and way. In addition, all of that will be for our eternal good. When press hard into this Refuge nothing can displace us.
   
2. Look to Him as Our Provision (verse 2): There are many uncertain things about our economy, which may include our work, our ministerial support, and our financial margin. But God. But God is good and He will ever give good gifts to His beloved children. He gives constantly from his eternal riches of grace, holding us in our doubts, loving us in spite of our broken, sinful ways, and caring for our EVERY need.
   
3. Clear Our Lives of Idols (verse 4): We see David, the psalmist, highlights the sorrow of those who run after other gods. They multiply. When we find ourselves in sadness, or leaning towards despair, it is a good indication we have unchecked idols in our lives. The first two ‘ways’ listed above can’t happen if we’re clinging to something besides God. I have been having some heart to hearts with Jesus about my idols in these days, how about you?
   
4. ​Choose God (verse 5): Imagine there is a lavish table filled with all we could want to feed our stomachs, in a gorgeous home with every new finish, space beyond our needs, and the presence of every famous person we could ever want to know. However, there isn’t God’s presence. Would we leave all of those truly good things and choose God? I am reminded of the C.S. Lewis quote: “Put first things first and second things are thrown in. Put second things first and you lose both first and second things.”
5. Trust with a Thankful Heart (verse 6): I used to always say ‘there is no life without trust.’ I have been reminded of that much in these days. As I trust He is ever good to me, I embrace where He has placed me. Then I have the eyes to see the ‘pleasant places’ he has prepared for me, and the ‘beautiful inheritance’ of my life in Christ. These things are always true, but am I present with the abundance of His presence in the blessings of my life?
6. Make Him Our First and Last Thought (verse 7): Praise Him. Let it flow from our lips…always. David says ‘in the night also my heart instructs me.’ Even when we awake in the night, may we always be thinking on Him, resting all in His sovereign control. It is a discipline to be uttering praise to God, but it’s one that brings indescribable joy as it leads us to God’s presence (verse 11).
7. Fix Our Eyes on Him (verse 8): All of these directives are inter-related. Yet, as we employ them, we WILL see them come together in a moment-to-moment dependence and focus on the Lord. David says, ‘I have set the LORD always before me…I shall not be shaken.’ As we look to Jesus, our Savior, all He has done for us, forever securing our days, our eternity, nothing, absolutely nothing, can shake us.

 
In verse 9 we see how all of this has led to a ‘glad heart’, a ‘whole being which rejoices’ and ‘a flesh which ‘DWELLS SECURE.’ This promise is absolutely ours as well when we live the truth of this psalm.
 
I trust you have heard me saying ‘me’ and ‘our’ throughout this post. I need to remember each of these things. You are not alone. And especially, none of us is ever alone, because our Great High Priest ‘in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.’ He is the Great Shepherd who leads us to the glorious pastures of peace found in the heart of God--which is ours no matter what is happening around us.

About Abby

Abby is a small-town loving, big city adventurer.  She and her husband have worked with high school students most of their lives!  Since their internship in Budapest, Hungary in 2005-2006, they have been working with the ministry of CRU.  In May of this year, they moved to Hungary answering God's call to work long-term with the students of Central and Eastern Europe.  Abby loves to laugh, especially at herself, has a passion for God and making Him known and is ever learning how to do that with three small children, ages 5, 3 and one month.  She wouldn't trade the journey for anything!  She blogs regularly at Fan the Flame  ​

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