O Lord, Be My Refuge!

O Lord, Be My Refuge!
By Mike Janton

 O Lord, be my refuge!

Dear Lord, be my rest!

Give me divine guidance

On this arduous quest.

Some trials come at us,

They form from without,

Other fires kindle thus:

From within they burn out.

Whether deep in our minds

Or the depths of our soul,

Whether enemies armed

With a sword or with bow,

We're plunged into war

In this life here on earth

The instant the Word

Was received in new birth.

In Scripture we're told

As the lawless abound,

That love will grow cold.

Take a look all around:

The headlines declare

What the prophets spoke clear.

The reports that we read

Tend to weary with fear.

The weight settles on us.

We think in our mind:

I can't stand beneath

The slow strain and the grind.

Some cope with what's real

By ignoring the signs.

Some eat their next meal

Oblivious to the times.

Some numb themselves sick

With the drug of their choice.

Some drown in vain pleasure

And drown out the small voice.

Where does my help come from?

It comes from the Lord.

Dear God, strengthen me

To continue forward!

Shed the love of my Jesus

Abroad in my heart!

Let me remember the work

You began at the start!

You promised Your presence.

You promised Your care.

Your promise stands true!

You'll always be there.

I'll do what I can

To give it my all,

To honor Your name

In the midst of the fall.

When my efforts fall short,

As at times in the past,

When I come to my senses,

I remember at last:

It has been by Your grace

That I've been made to stand,

And find hope in this place

By the strength of Your hand.