God is our refuge

    and strength,

a very present help

            in trouble.

Therefore

we will not fear

though the earth gives way,

though the mountains

  be moved into

             the heart of the sea...

             Psalm 46. 1-2

(God's Presence is

not diminished by circumstances.

Even then,

God is with us,

still our refuge,

     our strength,

    and help,

made evident even more

   in times of trouble.

Therefore we will not fear

        though_________

        (fill in the blank).

Prayer is our first response,

not our last resort.

Practicing over and over

      His Presence with us

                 in the everydays

radically changes our response

             in the crisis.

Sometimes the hardest thing

is to sit still

and know that He is Almighty God.)

O LORD,

You are our refuge and strength.

Help us to realize that.

Help us to seek You

not just for what You do

but for Who You are,

          the Almighty God.

Be our refuge,

not to cower as in a hiding place,

but from which we go forth

            strengthened,

ready to respond to You

and not paralyzed by

          circumstances.

Help us to

    practice Your Presence

over and over and over again,

engraving Your reality

            in our hearts.

Why are we here

         in this situation?

To seek You

and see Your glory in it.