“The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” — Proverbs 18:10 (KJV)
Morning Devotion
Every person runs somewhere when life shakes.
Some run to people, some to panic, some to pills or distractions. But the wise learn where true safety is found: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”
A tower in Bible times was not a decoration. It was a fortress. It stood tall above the chaos, giving perspective when the battlefield below felt overwhelming. Soldiers did not build towers during the fight. They built them before the fight so when trouble came, they knew exactly where to go.
That is what the name of the Lord is for us, a refuge we can run to when the winds howl and the ground shakes. It does not remove the battle, but it protects the heart of the one who knows where to hide.
A Porch Story
One afternoon last fall, a thunderstorm rolled across our little town. I was on the porch watching the sky turn that strange green gray color that says, “You had better get inside soon.”
The wind picked up, trees started swaying, and the first drops hit like tiny hammers on the tin roof. I called out to Joy, “Looks like it is coming fast!” She peeked out and said, “Then stop watching and start moving!”
I laughed, but she was right. The porch is a great place for reflection, not for riding out a storm. So I stepped inside just as the rain unleashed.
I stood by the window and thought about how fast safety changes. One moment you are dry and relaxed. The next, you are one gust away from getting drenched.
That is when Proverbs 18:10 came to mind. The name of the Lord is not just a phrase to admire; it is a place to abide. You do not just look at the tower. You run into it.
What It Means to Run In
Running into His name means you do not rely on your own strength, your own logic, or your own defense.
You lean completely into who He is: His faithfulness, His power, His mercy, His love.
When you say, “Lord, I run to You,” you are not escaping reality. You are entering refuge.
Inside that tower, fear loses its footing. Lies lose their volume. The storm still rages outside, but inside, you are safe.
Safety does not mean silence. It means security.
The thunder may roll, but you are under His covering now.
A Little Porchside Theology
The Hebrew word for “safe” in this verse means “set on high, inaccessible to danger.”
That means when you run to the Lord, He does not just shelter you. He lifts you.
He raises your perspective so you can see above the chaos.
From that tower view, what looked massive on the ground looks manageable from His height.
You stop saying, “The storm is big,” and start saying, “My God is bigger.”
Building Your Tower Before the Battle
The wise do not wait for the storm to prepare. They build habits of refuge before trouble hits:
• Daily prayer, so running to Him becomes instinct, not last resort.
• Scripture memory, so truth rises faster than fear.
• Worship, so your heart stays tuned to hope even when the world sings panic.
You do not build faith in the middle of the lightning. You build it on sunny days so you will know where to run when the clouds gather.
Make His name familiar ground. The more you dwell there, the faster you will find it when you need it.
Life Application
Pick a short “run in” prayer, something simple, something ready. Maybe:
“Father, I come.”
“Lord, You are my refuge.”
“Jesus, hold me close.”
Say it when pressure rises, when fear flashes, or when temptation knocks. Make it your spiritual reflex.
You might also write His names from this 30 day journey, such as Elohim, Jehovah Jireh, Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and others, on index cards. Keep them where you will see them: the dashboard, bathroom mirror, Bible cover.
Each one is a tower wall, and together they make a fortress that will not fall.
Prayer
Strong Tower,
You are my refuge and my strength,
my shelter in every storm,
my peace in every battle.
Teach me to run to You first and fastest.
When fear comes knocking, let faith answer from inside Your walls.
When the winds rise, remind me that Your name still stands tall above it all.
Thank You for being my safety, not just from danger but from doubt.
Lift my eyes above the flood and set my feet on solid ground.
In Your strong and saving Name, Amen.
Reflection Question / Journal Prompt
Where do you usually run when life gets hard: to worry, to work, or to the Word?
Write this in your journal:
“Lord, teach me to run into Your name.”
Then circle the three names from this devotional series that spoke deepest to your heart. Keep them close and pray them often. They are more than names. They are shelter.
Evening Reflection
The storm outside has passed now. The air smells like rain and renewal, and the porch boards are slick with a fresh shine. The tower held.
That is what running to God feels like at the end of a long, hard day: knowing the storm did not win, the structure did not fall, and you are still standing under His protection.
Before you close your eyes tonight, whisper your “run in” prayer one more time:
“Lord, I run into Your name and rest in Your strength.”
Let peace settle like a warm blanket.
The Strong Tower is not a place to hide from purpose. It is a place to be armed for it.
You have spent 30 days learning who He is, name by name, truth by truth.
Now go live from that strength.
Run in when the thunder rolls.
Rest up when your spirit tires.
Then step back out, covered, confident, and calm, carrying the peace of the One whose name still holds you.
On a quiet front porch kind of morning, coffee in hand, Bible open, there’s a truth in Philippians 2 that will steady your soul and lift your eyes.
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”— Philippians 2:9–11 (KJV)
Friend, there are a lot of names being shouted in our world right now. Titles. Labels. Diagnoses. Failures. Regrets. Headlines. Fears. But God reminds us there is one Name that rises above them all.
The name of Jesus.
Not a slogan. Not a lucky charm. Not just a word we tack onto the end of a prayer.
A Name that carries authority.
A Name that carries victory.
A Name that carries hope.
God highly exalted Jesus because Jesus willingly humbled Himself. He stepped down into our brokenness so we could be lifted into God’s family. He wore a crown of thorns so one day every knee would bow before the King of Kings.
That means no matter what you’re facing today, Jesus outranks it.
Your mountain has a name.
Your storm has a name.
Your sickness has a name.
Your fear has a name.
But Jesus has the Name above every name.
So when you don’t know what else to say, whisper His name.
When your strength is gone, call His name.
When your heart feels heavy, speak His name.
Jesus.
One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess it. But you don’t have to wait for someday. You can declare it right now.
Jesus is Lord over your life.
Jesus is Lord over your home.
Jesus is Lord over your future.
And because His Name is above all, you can walk today with your head up, your heart anchored, and your hope alive.
Hold onto this truth, friend:
The Name above every name is for you, with you, and walking beside you today.
Michael Joe Harvell 