Psalm 124:2-3 ‘If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us.’

DAILY READING • Mark 14:1-31; 1 Kings 8; Hosea 9:17-10:15

Andrew Jackson would be the first American president to face and survive an assassination attempt.
On January 30, 1835, President Andrew Jackson attended a funeral where the chaplain’s sermon doted on the uncertainty of life.
It proved to be a timely sermon because only few moments later, the president’s life hung in a balance.
As he was leaving the venue that day, a young man pulled out a gun from his coat and faced the president. From a distance of about six feet, the assassin aimed at President Jackson’s heart and pulled the trigger!
But the gun failed to fire. Realizing what was happening President Jackson raised his walking cane and tried to hit the gunman.
But the assailant only pulled out a second gun, which he again aimed at the president who was now very close, only inches away from the gun’s muzzle.
As the assassin pulled the trigger, again the second gun failed to fire.

By this time several military aides had swooped down on the assassin and overpowered him.
Miraculously, his two attempts to shoot the President had failed due to technical failures in both guns. However, the amazing thing was that, hours later, when the two guns were tested, they functioned perfectly and fired accurately. Yet, somehow, inexplicably both guns had failed during the assassination attempt. God had miraculously intervened that day to save the President’s life.

We may never know how many times God has intervened to deflect the weapons fashioned against us. We sleep and wake up every day, never knowing the many arrows that failed to function against us.

Psalm 91:5, talks about ‘the terror by night, and arrows that flies by day’
Psalm 55:10 also talks about the wicked who go around the city walls, day and night.
1 Peter 5:8 talks about the adversary, the devil, who goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour:’

Obviously, day and night on the earth, there is constant battle. Day and night the enemy is always releasing his weapons.
Yet, God who never sleeps nor slumbers day and night also watches over us,

Psalm 121: 3-5 & 7 says ‘He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: ..The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.’

Despite the spiritual missiles flying about, God is ever awake, causing the enemy’s weapons to suffer technical failures.
This is why we praise Him. Indeed if it had not been for the Lord on our side, where would we be?’
God has been our shield, our refuge and strong tower.
For His many mercies, seen and unseen, we owe Him constant thanks.
However it takes spiritual understanding to give value to our praise. It is only when we can think well, that we can thank well.

Psalm 47:7 says ‘…sing ye praises with understanding’
Through the study of the Word we receive the spiritual insight that grants us deep appreciation for God. We cannot possibly know all the details of God’s goodness, but for every of His blessings, known or unknown, we owe Him continual thanks.
Indeed we can never count the battles He daily fights for us nor the many traps He helps us to escape.
Especially, in this perilous season of the pandemic, some of us walked through the valley of the shadow of death, yet God kept us. The times that we could have given up, God’s grace upheld us.
Let us therefore. deliberately and constantly bless the Lord at all times.
Through high praises, we will ignite the wonder-working power of God that leads us to our high places. Certainly, through gratitude, we shall be rising to higher altitudes.

PRAYER: Lord, I just thank You for the grace to praise You always. I’m truly grateful for all Your faithfulness and unending goodness in my life and in the life of my family. Thank You Lord for Your divine protection, preservation and provisions in Jesus’ Name.

QUOTE
Everything that ultimately has a glorious ending usually has a humble beginning. WORDBITE 222