Psalm 44:6 (ESV) -- For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me.

America is a very blessed nation. Honestly, most nations of the world today are blessed compared to what life was like just a hundred years ago. In times before our own, people labored hard to provide for their every need. Food was difficult to acquire, store, and prepare. Nothing was easy for people. They had to hunt for food or grow it themselves, which was work. Once they secured food, they had to use it quickly because they didn’t have good storage or preserving options. Then they had to prepare it by building fires and working to ready the meal. The process started all over again the next day. 

Why do I mention this reality to begin our devotion? Because as we look at the verse today, it gets to the root of where we are putting our trust. The psalmist says, “For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me.” The psalmist is speaking about weapons of warfare. The principle is that only the LORD, not any weapon he may possess, is his help and strength. God is ultimately the One who rules his life. 

But we don’t have to speak of physical protection in battle. Every day we have needs that exist. We need food, clothing, shelter, and all sorts of things. Our trust for provision is not in our job, God provides that. It’s not our grocery stores, refrigerators, pantries, houses, or any other number of things that we have and trust in. No, all these are still ultimately from the LORD. We don’t trust in those things as our strength. Only God is the ultimate provider. Our bows and swords today are often the everyday conveniences we’ve grown accustomed to, to make life easier. But God is still the source.  

How about you? Do you recognize as the psalmist did that God is your true source of provision? This doesn’t mean you quit your job, mismanage money, fail to save, quit going grocery shopping, or any of those things. We continue to do those; we just recognize God is the One giving us all things. These things make life easier, but they are no less given by God. Give thanks today. Express to God your gratitude for His provisions in your life and family. We don’t trust in swords. Our swords can’t save us.

Psalm 44:6 (ESV) -- "For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me."
Only God is the ultimate provider. Our bows and swords today are often the everyday conveniences we’ve grown accustomed to, to make life easier. 

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Reflection & Journal:
- What is the connection between bow/sword and our daily conveniences?
- Why should we not stop going to work or grocery shopping in order to let God provide for us?
- How does this passage challenge you? In what ways does it make you grateful? 

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