Psalm 23:4 ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.’
DAILY READING – John 10:22-42; 2 Chronicles 9; Psalm 74
Bruce Van Natta is the founder of sweet bread ministries located in Wisconsin and author of the book, ‘Saved by Angels.’
Years ago, Bruce was a self-employed diesel mechanic and worked on engines that weighed thousands of pounds. On November 16, 2006, he was working underneath a logging truck, when the 20-ton capacity jack holding up the truck suddenly shot out from its position. The 10,000 pounds weight of the truck’s two front wheels then came down on Bruce’s chest, crushing him. As blood splattered into his throat, Bruce felt himself dying and called out, ‘Lord, help me.’
At that point, he became unconscious and his spirit left his body and floated up towards the ceiling. Bruce found himself looking down at the accident scene from above and saw two huge angels, on their knees by his side, with their arms angled in toward his body. In that desperate moment, Bruce found he was not alone, God had sent His angels.
On the edge of life and death, somehow he felt his spirit go back down into his body and he became conscious. When rushed to the hospital, doctors on seeing his condition, doubted he would even survive the next few hours. His ribs were broken, his pancreas and spleen crushed, and several major arteries had been severed. He should have bled to death in a few minutes, but didn’t. Bruce stayed in the hospital for over two months and survived five major surgeries. As friends and families prayed, miraculously God restored his damaged body organs. Doctors would later testify that he was the only person in the world that has ever had five major arteries severed and yet survived. Bruce however knew his survival was because God had been with him and walked him through the valley of the shadow of death.
Psalm 23:4 says ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.’
God allowed Bruce to see those angels to let him know how even in the midst of trouble, he is never alone. When you go through complex challenges in life, it may sometimes seem as if you are walking alone. But the truth is that God is always with us, even in times of difficulty. Whatever we may pass through, God never leaves us, nor forsakes us. God will always send us help out of Zion, He is an ever present help in the time of need.
God said in Isaiah 43:2, “When you go through the waters, I will be with you, when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you, when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned”.
God may not keep us out of every fire or flood, but He promises to be right there to pull us through. Today the world is passing through a very difficult time. But despite the fears and anxieties in the world, we can afford to be joyful, because of God’s ever abiding Presence. Even in the midst of what seems like a chaotic situation, God is with us.
And because we know He is with us, we can have joy in the midst of adversity, we can have a song in the night season and be at peace even in the storm.
Even when obstacles seem too much, it is never too much for our God. God is our refuge, our strong tower, our deliverer and our fortress. In the midst of the fiery furnace, He will turn up as the fourth man. And He will deliver us through every fiery trial and turn every test into a testimony for us.
PRAYER; Father, I receive the grace to always praise You in every situation. Thank You Lord for giving me continual peace despite the situation in the world. Indeed through Christ I have the victory over every contrary situation in Jesus Name.
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When we fight by God’s help we are sure of victory. WORDBITE 222