Early in the morning, I shall turn my thoughts to Him because He is the strength for my day. Without Him I would be overcome by the terrors of the night.

I shall turn my thoughts to Him and be sheltered by His presence. He is my sure refuge.

At noontime when the heat of the day would cause my soul to faint, then too I will turn my face toward my deliverer. He will canopy me with His Love and I shall be refreshed. He is my sure refuge. In Him will I put my trust.

In the evening, when shadows creep around me, I will not be afraid. I will turn my face to Him, and all shadows will be gone because of the light of His presence. The chill of darkness that would bring terror to my soul is dis¬pelled by the warmth or His Love. His Love is mine, and He wraps it about me so that I am kept by His Love. I shall have no fears because I am hid in Him. He is my sure refuge.

When the tempter comes against me and would flood my soul with despair, then I will turn my heart to my God. He shall keep me; and though the terror that is in my flesh would seem to engulf me, I will not be afraid, because my God is all about me. His Love is around me; I am hid in His hand. He whispers to my soul and I am encouraged. Truly, the soul that trusts in God shall not be put to shame.

So even though the enemy shakes my flesh, and comes against me like a mighty wind, I will not listen to his voice. His words are lies and their end is death. His antidote would dull my mind and destroy my will so that even though my soul longs for God, I would be mocked and find not the way, I will let my flesh shake, but I will not turn from my God. He is my strength, He is my deliverer, He is my sure refuge. 

Then when my eyes see clearly, they see the glory of my Father. They see the strength of His arm and the depth of His Love. They see the might of His power, and they are filled with awe at the wisdom of His ways. They see the smallness of the flesh. They see that flesh was made to show the glory of God, but they see, too, that only as they see God’s power of Love above the ways of the flesh, will the flesh show forth the Glory of God.

When my eyes see, then shall my soul live. No longer shall fear overwhelm me. I have seen my God because I have turned to Him. In every weakness of myself, I shall turn to my God. I shall turn to Him and see Him with the eyes of His Spirit that He has given me. I will turn from the tempter and not listen to him. I will stop my ears and close my eyes of flesh so that I will not hear the lies of the enemy. My eyes are for my God, my ears are open to Him. I am not afraid because He tells me that He is always with me. He tells me that He has overcome the evil one and that I may rest in His strength.

I will praise my God. I will turn my thoughts always to Him. He is my strength, In Him I am strong with His strength. He is my deliverer so I can not be overcome. I will praise the God of my soul because He is my refuge. I will turn from the things of this world and live in the place that my Father’s Love has prepared for me. I will turn to Him in all things so that in all things I am His.

He is my Beloved and I live in Him. In all things my soul shall trust Him, and I shall sing His praises all the day long.

-- Roy L. Stahl