Read | Nahum 1:2–8
The LORD is a jealous and avenging God;
the LORD takes vengeance
and is fierce in wrath.
The LORD takes vengeance against his foes;
he is furious with his enemies.
The LORD is slow to anger but great in power;
the LORD will never leave the guilty unpunished.
His path is in the whirlwind and storm,
and clouds are the dust beneath his feet.
He rebukes the sea and dries it up,
and he makes all the rivers run dry.
Bashan and Carmel wither;
even the flower of Lebanon withers.
The mountains quake before him,
and the hills melt;
the earth trembles at his presence—
the world and all who live in it.
Who can withstand his indignation?
Who can endure his burning anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire;
even rocks are shattered before him.
The LORD is good,
a stronghold in a day of distress;
he cares for those who take refuge in him.
But he will completely destroy Nineveh
with an overwhelming flood,
and he will chase his enemies into darkness.
Click here to listen to the Scripture in ESV.
God is both just and good: he judges evil and is a refuge for those who take shelter in him. Do you tend to minimize sin because you forget his holiness, or despair in sin because you forget his mercy?
Repentance means running to God, not merely feeling bad before him. Where do you need to stop hiding and take refuge in him today?
Focus
Repentance is refuge. When shame rises today, do not run into distraction, self-punishment, or hiding. Turn that moment into prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, and keep me near you.”
Pray
Pray for a holy fear of God that does not drive you away, but drives you into his refuge.
Going Deeper
If you are also following the BibleProject’s One Story That Leads to Jesus reading plan, complete today’s reading.