~Alex Wu

Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Psalm 71:3

Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you. Psalm 71:6

But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more. Psalm 71:14

The psalmist, likely King David, continually came to the refuge of God, continually put his hope in Him and continually praised Him despite the continual attacks from his enemy. He undoubtedly set an example of trusting in God for all of God’s people. This is a result of his continual walk with God throughout his life.

According to 2 Peter 1:5-7, the journey with God has various stages starting from faith and virtue, to knowledge and self-control, to steadfastness and godliness, and finally to brotherly affection and love (agape in Greek). Continual trust in God under an enemy’s attack is best described as steadfastness, which is only the middle stage of a believer’s journey with God. Based on my experience, the enemy’s attack could drive me closer to God since I had no one to lean on except God. But when the oppression subsided, complacency started to surface and trust in God became a concept instead of a continual act. Indeed, King David stumbled in his walk with God after he had defeated most of his enemy. Without the enemy’s attack as the driver, what could drive us close to God?

The Greek word agape often means more than ordinary love in the Bible. It indicates unconditional love, like Jesus’ love to humanity at the cross. If we possess this agape love toward God, we would have plenty of motivation to continually come to Him and to continually praise Him. There is no other way of obtaining the agape love except through earnest prayer and actively seeking His presence and grace. This shall be my lifetime goal of walking with God.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your love to me. As my spirit is willing, my flesh is often weak for the continual trust in you. Fill me with your agape love so that I may have the strength to seek you and praise you in all circumstances. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen!