Isaiah 31: 4-5  ‘….so shall the Lord of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof. As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.’

DAILY READING John 4:43-54; 1 Chronicles 17; Zechariah6

David Brainerd was known as “The apostle to the Indians.” He served as a missionary to the Indians from 1739 to 1747. During the course of his ministry he kept a diary which recorded some of the remarkable things that happened to him. One of these events was God’s amazing divine protection over him, on his first night, when he went to minister to the Indians.

After three years of study at Yale Divinity School, Brainerd made his way to the Indians in Kaunaumeek, New York. This tribe of Indians were particularly ferocious, living in the dense forests of Delaware.  David arrived near their camp late one evening and decided to spend the night in the woods before introducing himself the next morning. He didn’t realize that several of the Indian men had earlier noticed him and had been following him for hours. These scouts then went back to their camp and reported to the chief of the stranger in their midst.

That night, the Indians planned to kill this white man because, up until then, the white man had brought them nothing but grief. However that night as the warriors silently drew near Brainerd’s camp, what they saw was an image they would see many more times in the coming years … Brainerd was on his knees praying for them. According to their report, while he prayed a rattlesnake squirmed up to him, lifted its head, flicks its forked tongue close to his face, and then, for no apparent reason, glided away into the darkness.

This made the chief and the warriors nervous and instead of killing him they returned to their campsite.

When the young missionary entered the Indian village early the next morning, he received a much more cordial welcome than he had anticipated. It wasn’t until later that he learned of the strange events of the preceding night.

Realizing that he must possess a higher power, these Indians were open to receive his message, and many of them eventually gave their lives to Christ.

Brainerd had no idea of how God protected him from the snake until the Indians told him about it.

Indeed there are hidden battles which God fights for us, which we may never know about until we get to Heaven. There have been times the enemy set traps and nets for our feet, but yet in the nick of time, God pulled us out of it. There have been times we found ourselves in tight places, and when it seemed there was no way out, somehow, God showed up and made a way for us.

God’s protection around us is real. This is why we do not have to fret or worry about what may be happening in the world. Let us always remember that God is watching over us, and He never sleeps nor slumbers. This is why we should concern ourselves more with drawing closer to God, knowing that He is able to deliver those that put their trust in Him.

Isaiah 31: 4-5 says ‘….so shall the Lord of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof. As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.’

Indeed God is committed to our defense and deliverance. He will fight for us, He will protect us. Therefore rather than fret, let us always give Him worthy praise.

Indeed if it had not been for the Lord on our side, where would we be? When we recall the goodness of The Lord and all He does for us; the miracles, deliverances, provisions etc, then we truly should be grateful. Thanksgiving should be a daily lifestyle. Indeed God has been good to us.

We do not have to wait before something major happens before we remember to pray or give thanks. Life itself is a daily miracle.

That we can sleep and wake up is a big miracle. Each morning you woke up always remember that it was The Lord that woke you up and not your alarm clock. And if He woke you up this morning it is because He has not yet finished with you, there is still so much He has in store for you. Let us therefore always remain thankful to God for His faithfulness to us. Indeed God is always good and His mercies endure forever.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to be always grateful for all Your goodness in my life. Please grant me the grace not to fret or worry, but rather to strengthen my heart in faith, through constant study of Your Word in Jesus Name

QUOTE

When you obey God’s instruction you are delivered from destruction WORDBITE 222