“I love you, LORD; you are my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” Psalm 18:1-2

When you read these verses, what word stands out? Look again. David uses the word “my” eight times in just two verses. My strength. My rock (he says this twice!). My fortress. My savior. My God. My shield. My place of safety.

That little word changes everything.

“My” means belonging to me. It’s not a friend; it’s my friend. It’s not a house; it’s my house. And for David, God is not just a God but his God.

David wrote this psalm later in his life after God had delivered him from Saul and all his enemies. Looking back over everything the LORD had done, he celebrates with eight “my” statements.

These eight “my” statements aren’t just head knowledge for David. He’s intimately acquainted with God. He’s experienced God personally. God has been his rock when everything crumbled. His fortress when enemies attacked. His shield when accusations flew. His place of safety when danger surrounded him.

But how did David come to know God so personally? How did God become “my” God instead of just “a” God? David cried out to the Lord in his distress, and God answered. David prayed, and God showed up. Again and again, David personally interacted with God through prayer, and God personally responded.

Can you say the same? Is God your rock, or just a rock? Your strength, or just strength in general?

The difference between knowing about God and knowing God personally is found in that little word “my.” David didn’t learn these truths in a classroom. He learned them in the midst of crisis when he cried out, and God answered.

What was true for David is true for you, too: if you want to personally experience God, the door is wide open. Talk to Him about your struggles, your fears, your needs. Cry out to Him in your distress. As you see Him show up, as you watch Him answer, He will become more personal to you. He will become your rock, your fortress, your strength.

Maybe you’re facing a difficult conversation and need God to be your courage. Perhaps you’re navigating a health crisis and need Him to be your place of safety. Or maybe everything feels unstable, and you need Him to be your rock. God is inviting you into the same kind of personal relationship David had—where God isn’t just a concept but your strength, your everything.

REFLECT

Where do you need God to be YOUR rock, YOUR strength, YOUR fortress today? Tell Him