Psalm 20 1 [NIV] ‘May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.’
DAILY READING; Mark 11:15-33; 1 Kings 2; Hosea 5:5-15
What happened in the streets of Mogadishu in October 1993 became a turning point in the United States’ interventions in Africa.
At a time of great famine and war in Somalia, America had led the international intervention to bring aid to Somalia.
But the attempt to distribute aid was disrupted by one of the seven war lords fighting in Somalia. This notorious warlord, Gen. Mohamed Farah Aideed had killed 24 Pakistanis while they distributed food.
In October 1993, elite American troops launched a raid in the Somali capital of Mogadishu to either capture or kill Farrah Aidid and his key aides.
During the raid, American soldiers seized two of Mohammed Farrah Aidid’s top lieutenants, but things suddenly went wrong, as an American soldier who was climbing the helicopter rope, fell 70 feet to the ground headfirst.
Staff Sergeant Jeff Struecker led three Humvees to rescue the fallen and unconscious soldier and return him back to their base.
But on their way back, as they turned a corner, they ran into an ambush by thousands of Mohammed Farrah Aidid’s fighters. Though shot at from different directions, miraculously most of the men escaped and made it back to base.
However, on arrival, Struecker was told he had to drive back with his men to rescue more soldiers who had been in two helicopters shot down by the Somali rebels.
Struecker knew going back into the midst of the thousands of armed Somalis was a suicide mission. Being a Christian, he prayed fervently for God’s help and deliverance.
As he prayed, he felt the Lord remind him of his recent Bible devotional about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. There, Jesus said, “Not my will but yours be done.”
Struecker prayed for only God’s will to be done and from that moment on, he felt his worries disappear as he trusted God to take care of him. In the ensuing bloody battles, 18 Americans and two UN soldiers were killed and hundreds of Somali fighters also died.
The images of dead American soldiers being dragged through the streets of Mogadishu by the rebels outraged many Americans. Within 6 months America withdrew its troops from Somali and from then on, the U.S became wary of intervening in African crises.
As for Jeff Struecker , his display of faith and strength that night of fierce battles, caused many soldiers to afterward flock to him wanting to know more about his God. The desire to impact the lives of these soldiers for Christ influenced Struecker to eventually become an army chaplain.
One of the stark realities of being a citizen of the world is that we can get caught in battles fuelled by the actions of selfish and evil-motivated oppressors.
But even though we may walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we shall fear no evil because God is with us.
In the midst of the chaos and confusing circumstances in the world, we need to hold on to God’s promises in His Word. No matter how the sea roars, as we walk in faith, we will never become victims of the plots of the wicked.
Walking in faith means that we need to constantly focus on what God has said in His Word and give no room for fear.
As we maintain our focus on God, He will gradually guide us through every difficulty and bring us into His perfect plan and purpose.
No matter how formidable any situation, through the power of prayer we can change the tide of the battle in our favor.
We serve the God of excessive power, excessive grace, and excessive might. There is no problem, trouble, situation or circumstance that God cannot handle. Therefore any time you face what seems an insurmountable mountain, do not panic. Don’t think that it is the end of the road. As long as you can keep your focus on God’s Word, be assured that help is on the way. In God, we have an immovable rock that we can always run to.
In times of trouble, He will answer us speedily and send us help from Zion.
Psalm 20 1 [NIV] says ‘May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.’
This is our prayer today. Surely, the Name of the Lord will protect us and send us help from His sanctuary.
Let us continue to praise God for delivering us from the actions of evil oppressors. By the grace of God it is our time to experience a sudden shift in our circumstances, we shall indeed see supernatural turnarounds, inexplicable miracles, speedy divine deliverances and abundance of peace and progress.
PRAYER Lord I thank You for Your grace being released to me to experience divine deliverance from oppression in every area of my life. You are forever faithful and You never fail. I know that even right now You are perfecting all that concerns me in Jesus Name.
QUOTE
When you make God your priority, God automatically makes you priority in His own plan. – WORDBITE 222
Shalom!
@GOODHEART- EKWUEME .
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