Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Our Reading titled, Lean on God, was written by Jasmine Go.

While at a water park with some friends, we attempted to navigate a floating obstacle course

made of inflatable platforms.

The bouncy, slippery platforms made walking straight almost impossible.

As we wobbled our way across ramps, cliffs, and bridges, we found ourselves yelping

as we fell unceremoniously into the water. After completing one course,

my friend, completely exhausted, leaned on one of the towers to catch her breath. Almost immediately,

it buckled under her weight, sending her hurtling into the water. Unlike the flimsy towers

at the water park, in Bible times, a tower was a

stronghold for defense and protection. Judges 9 50 through 51 describes how the people of

Thabez fled to a strong tower to hide from Abimelech's attack on their city. In Proverbs 1810, the writer used the image of a strong tower to hide from Abimelech's attack on their city. In Proverbs 1810, the writer used the image of a

strong tower to describe who God is, the one who saves those who trust him. Sometimes, however,

rather than lean on the strong tower of God when we're tired or beaten down, we seek other things for safety and

support, a career, relationships, or physical comforts. We're no different from the rich man who

looked for strength in his wealth. But just as the inflatable tower couldn't support my friend,

these things can't give us what we really need.

God, who's all-powerful and in control of all situations, provides true comfort and security.

Today's Our Daily Bread Devotional Scripture reading is from Proverbs 18, verses 10 through 15.

The name of the Lord is a fortified tower, the righteous run to it and are safe.

The wealth of the rich is their fortified city. They imagine it a wall too high

to scale. Before a downfall, the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. To answer

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