‘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 READING Hebrews 12; Exodus 16:1-17:16; Proverbs 7:6-27
In the past 100 years alone, there have been over 200 wars and conflicts globally. And it is estimated that over 180 million people lost their lives in the wars and conflicts in the last century. This is a number far greater than in any other century in history. Presently, it is estimated that almost 60 million people are now either refugees or internally displaced because of conflict and violence around the globe. This is the highest it has been since the Second World War and equates to almost one per cent of the world’s current population.
According to the sequence of biblical events heralding the end time, there shall be an escalation of conflicts around the world. Jesus said the last days will be like the days of Noah, which were characterized by violence on the earth. And already we see violence increasing, with the rise in kidnapping, robbery, terrorist attacks, etc.
Sometimes listening to the news and what is going on it can be disheartening. But we don’t have to be afraid, no matter what takes place in the world, God will protect His children. 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.’
God’s presence is the only place of safety in this generation. 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 the efficacy of security systems, which is an empty trust. Only God can truly protect in this perilous times. Proverbs 21:31 says, ‘The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.’ Security systems are only the horses prepared against the day of battle, but safety only comes from the Lord. Our hope and trust therefore should be in God alone. He alone can protect His people. It is time therefore to draw closer to Him who alone is able to keep us and cover our heads in the day of battle.
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, 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 when the plagues came upon Egypt. 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. So this is a time to maintain a praiseful lifestyle so as to maintain God’s presence around us. The name of the Lord is a strong tower that the righteous runs into and is 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.
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 in Jesus’ name.
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When you obey God’s instruction you are delivered from destruction
[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK TRIUMPH OF LIGHT OVER DARKNESS]