PSALM 27:1, 4, 5 (NIV) - “The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid?...One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple…For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.”

For several years, weather permitting, I rise around 5:30 to seek a special quiet time with the Lord in a place where I can talk to Him and listen to his still small voice—undisturbed, alone with only my two dogs (Zoey and Monty) attending. My special place is our neighborhood dock on Western Lake. There I can see the sun rise in the east, the beautiful Gulf of Mexico straight ahead and the village of Grayton Beach to the west. How awesome our God’s creation!

Several days ago I was there meditating, asking the Holy Spirit for direction concerning my life concerns ... and the words I kept hearing were: “trust me and don’t be afraid for I am your strength and your song. Do not let fear eat away your energy but invest it instead in trusting me and singing MY Song. The battle for control of your mind is great, and years of worry have made you vulnerable to the enemy. Therefore, Paula, be vigilant in guarding your thoughts. Do not despise this weakness in yourself since I am using it to draw you closer to Me. Your constant need for Me creates an intimacy that is well worth all the effort. You are not alone in this struggle for your mind. My Holy Spirit, living within you, is ever ready to help as you strive to overcome your daily battle. Let me help you get through this day. Thank me for every problem, you encounter, and watch as I transform your trials into blessings of peace.”

I leave my dock—my “cleft in the rock”—with confidence for each day.

Submitted by - Paula Platt