Psalm 46
November 16, 2025 O God, You are our Refuge and Strength, our Helper in times of trouble, our Stronghold. You are the place we can always go, no matter what chaos is happening in the world around us. You are the God of armies who is with us no matter who stands against us. You are exalted in heaven and on earth. And You are our God. What a comfort and strength that is when life feels overwhelming, when we are discouraged by the evil and injustice in the world, or when our own bodies and minds seem to betray us.
God, help us to come to You when we need a Refuge, to find delight in your streams of living water, to find security in Your presence when we feel at risk of being toppled. Help us to be on the lookout for the works You are doing so that we are reminded of Your greatness and Your goodness.
This psalm reminds us that You are the one who makes wars cease to the ends of the earth, who breaks the power of weapons. We ask that You would do that, God. For nations that are war-torn, for people facing threats to their lives for following You, for those under unjust and violent government regimes—would You put a stop to the violence, protect Your people, and end the fighting? We pray for Your will to be done on earth as in Heaven, for Your peace to reign in the hearts of Your people and in the nations of the world. We pray that leaders would make laws that are just, that they would protect the vulnerable, and that they would promote peace.
Forgive us, Father, for the times we have not been peacemakers but have added to the fighting, using our words, attitudes, and actions to bring division rather than sow love. Forgive us for the time we spend worrying and fighting rather than praying and trusting. Make us instruments of your peace and love.
We lift up the children and students in our church, growing up in a culture of outrage and anxiety. We pray that they would know You to be their rock-solid foundation, that they would find refuge in You from their worries, and that they would be an outpost of Your love and grace to those around them. We pray that they would find joy in being counted among Your people and that they would feel cared for by our church family even as they seek to care for and serve others.
We ask all of this in the mighty name of Jesus, and all God’s people said, Amen.