The other day as I was getting ready for work, I found myself feeling weary and tired. I was excited about my day, but feeling weary, I sat for a moment to read the scripture for the on my bible app. The verse of the day was psalm 46:1, which is a psalm that I really love, so I decided to read the whole thing and as I sat there reading, I felt a prompting to make it a bit more personal, so I read it over and replaced each ‘we’ with ‘me’ or ‘I’. (And no, I’m not changing the scriptures, just making it more personal…)

God is MY refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore I will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

Selah

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.

God is in the midst of ME; I shall not be moved; God will help ME when morning dawns.

The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord of hosts is with ME; the God of Jacob is MY fortress.

Selah

Come, behold the works of the Lord , how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

The Lord of hosts is with ME; the God of Jacob is MY fortress.

Selah

Psalms 46:1-11

Can I tell you, the changes in words made a difference in how I read and received it. It became more personal and more intimate; God is MY refuge and strength; God will help ME when morning dawns. Suddenly, the psalm took on a different feel and it hit my heart that little bit more and made God feel that little bit closer. It reminded me that God is for me, and He knows me by name. He is a personal God who loves us deeply and unconditionally and what He desires is a personal relationship with Him.

It’s a beautiful thing to praise and worship with others but it’s even more beautiful when we have those moments alone, just us and Jesus. And it’s sweeter still when we have the realisation that God is a caring and gracious Father that wants to spend time with us, just us. He wants us to know that His heart is for US. He wants us to encounter His abundant love for US. He wants us to see Jesus and know that He willingly went to the Cross for us.

Today, can I encourage you to make to make it personal because He is a personal God. He is a God that loves you. He is a God that will fight for you. And He is a God that is ever waiting with open arms for you.