Running to Him

Running to Him

Proverbs 18:10
10 The name of the LORD is a fortified tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe. (NIV)

If we are not careful, we can read this as if God will only rescue the righteous. I would suggest a slightly different perspective on this passage.

It is true that the righteous run to the Lord as their strong tower in times of duress. But what causes someone to be righteous is running to the Lord for safety. Running to God believing He is your Rescuer is the faith that makes us righteous. So then, it is not God choosing who to rescue as if the others He leaves to fend for themselves. No, when Christ died, He threw out the raft to anyone who wants to climb aboard after the shipwreck of their life. It’s a huge raft meant for whosoever puts their faith in Him.

The greater question then is about methodology. How do I run to the Lord in times of duress?

Obviously to call upon the Lord, to pray to Him, to ask for His help is one way. But first, I must open His ears to my cry. God is always present and He is never deaf. However, He does not always respond to our prayers. When we cherish sin, He does not respond. When we ask with selfish motives, He does not respond. If I am crying out to God to save me from a difficult moment, I need to be right with God. Before I pray, I must first sincerely repent of my sin. And I must examine my desires at the moment to ensure that in my heart, I am not wanting something that God would not want. I must align my desired outcome to His desired outcome. Or at the very least, be resigned to accept with grace any outcome God allows.

Many will call upon the name of the Lord to rescue them from a moment. They are crying out to God, but not running to Him. Running into the arms of God can only be done when I release the sin I cherish and let His purpose and motive become my own.

Anyone who does this, at any moment, will find themselves living righteously in the strong tower of God.

It is so easy to give God lip service forfeiting His protection. We must repent and run into Him.

Prayer: Lord, help me to release cherished sin that I might not simply praise You with my lips fooling myself into thinking You have been unfaithful. Let Your thoughts be mine. Amen.