Psalm 18:2-3: The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.’

DAILY READING; Hebrews 1; Genesis 45:1-46:27; Psalm 36

In 1994, Eric Irivuzumugabe was 16 years old when violence erupted in Rwanda. During the mayhem, as he was trying to escape with his family, he found himself separated from them and had to flee alone seeking a hiding place.
Eric was able to take refuge in a cluster of cypress trees which in their country is known as “trees of life”. Surprisingly, when he climbed up, he also found that some of his uncles were hiding in the trees.
And for the next 15 days they remained hidden there with barely any food or water. During this incredible massacre, their former Hutu neighbors hunted them down in the woods and in their villages, killing as many as they could in three months time, in an attempt to totally wipe out the Tutsi tribe.
As Eric and his uncles remained hidden high up in the cypress trees, the genocide raged all around them. Their survival was amazing and miraculous because somehow, God blinded the marauding Hutus from looking up and seeing them in the trees. It indeed seemed as if God had hidden them in plain sight of their enemies.
They remained in the trees until the Hutu militia was finally taken down by the invading Rwandan Patriotic Front, ending the genocide.
In the aftermath of the horror, Eric was reunited with some of his family members, who had also survived. Realizing that his survival had been solely due to God’s divine protection, Eric began to actively seek God and devoted his life to Him. Today, he runs a Christian ministry and his story is captured in his book ‘My Father, Maker of the Trees’.

Indeed God can hide us in plain view of our enemies. Though we may live in perilous times today, God still remains sovereign and is a refuge to all those who trust in Him.
It doesn’t matter the rage of evils in the world today, such as the pandemic, economic hardship or social instabilities, God remains our refuge. Despite the global trials and turmoil, our lives remains hidden in Christ. This is why instead of worrying, we should rather worship.

Psalm 18:2-3 says ‘The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.’

Indeed through praise, we can be saved from our enemies as we are hidden in God’s Presence. God inhabits the praises of His people and as we praise Him, we are covered under the shadow of His wings.
No matter the negative things going on in the world, God’s Presence remains our hiding place from it all.
Indeed the everlasting God is our refuge and our ever present help, therefore we will not fear. Even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling, through it all, the Lord remains our shelter, our hope, and our ever present help in time of need. [Psalm 46:2-3]

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for always being my refuge and hiding place from trouble. Please enable me to meditate constantly on Your Word and to always praise You, so that Your Presence can surround me at all times in Jesus Name.

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God knows how to work everything together in your life for your own good WORDBITE 222