by Don Emmitte |
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Those
who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of
the Almighty. This I declare of the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place
of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him. For he will rescue you
from every trap and protect you from the fatal plague. He will shield you
with his wings. He will shelter you with his feathers. His faithful
promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of
the night, nor fear the dangers of the day, nor dread the plague that
stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a
thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you. But you will see it with your eyes; you
will see how the wicked are punished. If you make the LORD your refuge, if
you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague
will come near your dwelling. For he orders his angels to protect you
wherever you go. They will hold you with their hands to keep you from
striking your foot on a stone. You will trample down lions and poisonous
snakes; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The LORD
says, "I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who
trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them
in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them. I will satisfy them with a
long life and give them my salvation."
(Psalm 91:1-16 NLV). Today’s reading is rather
long. I simply couldn’t bring myself to break this message into a
smaller paragraph. It has so
much to say to us in our world today.
With the news seeming more dark and ominous with each new report,
we need to know how to rest in the shadow of the Almighty. The benefits
are so clear in this psalm. Read it again and closely look at them. The
next question most of us raise is “how?” If we rely on the Lord’s
help, does this really mean that nothing bad can happen to me? Will I be
immune from terrorist attacks? For those who have rushed out to buy their
gas masks and already sealed their “safe rooms,” I am sure that the
answer would be a resounding “no.” The key in this promise of the Lord
is in the understanding of the balance of life He provides. God does not condone or promote
foolishness. Be wise in the preparations you must make for your future.
All of us who live in North Texas have lied with the knowledge of
potential devastation from the fast developing storms of our unpredictable
weather. We know how quickly a tornado can develop and destroy
everything in its path. In the face of that knowledge, we prepare.
That is wise. We should make wise preparations for these
“storms” we face today. However, God does not condone or promote the
paralysis of fear. That is
the enemies weapon. He
declares our freedom from fear in faith. Let me make some practical
suggestions in the face of the terrors of our day. 1. First, “take five.” Relax your mind with regular prayer and refocus your mind in Him. Draw your peace from the ultimate salvation God has planned for you. 2. Second, take a step forward. Instead of trying to make the whole journey at once, just take a step. No one knows the future. Don’t try to live there. 3. Third, celebrate the moment. Find that one thing about this moment that is good and center your thoughts in that. As difficult as it may seem, there is a good about every moment spent in the Lord. Find it and celebrate it! 4.
Last, share the joy your have found with another.
It will help them and you. There
is great comfort and strength in this fellowship. Rest in His shadows today. Your future IS secure in Christ! |
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