Psalm 46:1-2 KJV
‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;’
DAILY READING1 Corinthians 11:17-34; 2 Kings 5; Obadiah 1
George Washington, America’s first president, was a man of prayer who greatly enjoyed divine protection from God. He was never even wounded in battle. God’s hand was clearly upon his life.
Promoted to colonel in the colonial militia by his early 20s, Washington became an aide to the British, fighting the French in 1755. Although his mother tried to dissuade him, he reminded her, “The God to whom you commended me, defended me from all harm, and I trust He will do so now. ” He was right. God continually fought for him in battles and defended him always.
During the French and Indian War, Washington fought alongside British officers who refused to hide behind trees like their opponents. In a battle on July 9, 1755, British soldiers on horseback were being picked off by enemy bullets. But God’s hand of protection was on George Washington. Horses were shot out from under him twice, but he was never injured. When a volley of clear shots left Washington untouched, an Indian warrior declared, “This man was not born to be killed by a bullet!” An awe-struck Indian chief ordered his braves to cease firing. He said “This one is under the special protection of the Great Spirit.”
In a letter to his brother, Washington gave glory to God for his deliverance. He wrote in the letter ‘By the all powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had four bullets through my coat and two horses shot under me yet escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions on every side of me.”
When Washington revisited the area in 1770, an aged Indian chief told how his warriors had fired in vain at Washington that day. He told Washington, “A power mightier than us shielded you.” Then he prophesied: “Listen! The Great Spirit protects that man and guides his destinies – he will become the chief of nations and a people yet unborn will hail him as the founder of a mighty empire. I am come to pay homage to the man who is the particular favorite of Heaven and who can never die in battle.”
As God’s plan for him unfolded, Washington was elected commander in chief of the Continental Army in 1775. During the American Revolution, divine guidance and protection would become increasingly evident in his life, until eventually he became the first American president.
Indeed God protects those who trust in Him. Battles are real to life. Whether you like it or not, whether you are conscious of it or not, we are all involved in warfare, we are born into it. But as believers we don’t have any cause to worry, because God protects us and gives us victory.
Psalm 46:1-2 says ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;’
Though battles of life are real, much more real is our victory and triumph in the faith.
The Psalmist states that while some trust in chariots and some in horses, we shall trust in the name of the Lord our God. Trusting in chariots and horses means putting trust in human abilities and capabilities, which is an empty trust. Only God can truly protect us in this perilous times. As arrows of the wicked fly by day and by night, our only place of safety is in the Name of The Lord.
Proverbs 21:31 says ‘The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.’
In other words our human effort and security systems set in place, are only the horses prepared against the day of battle. But true safety only comes from The Lord. If The Lord does not watch over the city, the watchmen are awake in vain. When God gives peace, who can make war? therefore our hope and trust should be in God alone. He alone can protect His people through the battles of life. He, alone is able to keep us and cover our heads in the day of battle.
Especially in this endtime, as the tempo of spiritual battles increase, this is the time to build up our relationship with God more than ever before. We should continually bring our families under the covering of the blood of Jesus, even as we maintain a fervent family prayer altar. We should take our family devotion times serious. Many Christians have testimonies of how members of their families were saved from evil because of the prayer covering they received before stepping out into the day.
It doesn’t matter what people in the world may be experiencing our case is different. Because we are under the covenant of divine protection. We have the mark of the blood of the lamb, therefore we are exempted from afflictions of the Egyptians, just as the case of Goshen was different. God has promised that evil shall not befall us. Psalm 91 says that when we make The Lord our refuge a thousand will fall by our side and ten thousand at our right hand yet it will not come near us. Why? Because of God’s strong Presence.
And one sure way of engaging and maintaining God’s Presence is through praise.
The name of The lord is a strong tower that the righteous run into and are safe. .
David knew the secret of maintaining God’s Presence. This is why he gave himself to constant praise and despite all the bloody battles he fought he never lost any and was never wounded. It is therefore, time to engage a praiseful lifestyle so as to maintain God’s presence, that will ensure our continual defense in Jesus Name. .
PRAYER: Lord, I thank you for your protection over me and my household in this trying times, by your grace we shall never be visited by any evil, in Jesus Name. .
QUOTE
When you obey God’s instruction you are delivered from destruction
Adapted from the book, Faith Classics.