Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
DAILY READING – Luke 9:1-27; Genesis 15; Psalm 8
In her book, ‘By the Grace of God, A 9/11 Survivor’s Story of Love, Hope, and Healing,’ Jean Potter chronicles her amazing story of survival. Jean worked on the 81st floor of the first tower hit on the morning of 9/11. In an interview with the Christian broadcasting network [CBN] she recounts “All of a sudden, this massive explosion rocked the building, and we literally swayed from side to side, And what first came to me is, ‘This is not your time.”
Jean believes it was the voice of God — loud and clear — a message in the midst of chaos. She said she was thinking, ‘Is this building going to fall?’ And she was up 81 flights. She wondered how she was going to get out of there.
Jean made it to the staircase as the floor became engulfed in flames.
She said “My heart was palpitating a mile a minute as I was going down the staircase,” she recounted. Yet in the midst of the chaos Jean felt God reassuring her and prodding her to keep moving down the staircase.
Though debris and concrete pelted her, she said God’s mercy kept her alive, and “the big hit” never came. She did finally come down the stairs, and survived only by the grace of God to tell the story.
When encountering terrible threats, David asked God for help. He wanted to be assured of God’s nearness as he faced enemies in battle. In a heartfelt petition David said, “Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go . . . . Do not be far from me, my God; come quickly, God, to help me” (Ps. 71:3, 12).
God is often nearer than we know. Sometimes in times of trouble, we need to have our eyes opened to see that the greater one is with us. Even when it looks dark and foreboding God is always near, He is an ever present help in the time of need.
It was a frightful scene that night as the Syrian army gathered around the city of Dotham. By early morning when Elisha’ servant went out the whole city was compassed by armies, and they were there on one mission: to capture Elisha. Fear gripped the servant’s heart, panicking he ran back to report the situation to his master. But to his surprise, the prophet remained calm, ‘Alas Master what shall we do’ the servant cried, still in panic. Elisha simply said ‘they that be for us are greater than they that be for them’. But perhaps realizing that mere explanation could not convince the servant, he simply prayed ‘Lord open his eyes.’ God did open the eyes of the servant and what he saw was that the mountain around them was full of horses and chariots of fire, angels on the ready to defend and deliver.
Elisha’s confidence came from his intimate knowledge of God. He was not afraid because he knew the God he served. Perfect love casts out fear. In Psalm 91:14 God promises, ‘because he has set his love upon Me , I will deliver him’. When we set our love on God He is committed to our deliverance. We set our love on Him though fellowshipping with Him and getting to know Him personally. When you love someone you spend time with them getting to really know them. And it is the knowledge that comes from such intimacy that gives you confidence. He said in Jeremiah 29:13-14 ‘And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity’ when you find Him He turns your captivity, He brings deliverance to you. When the love of God has been shed abroad in our heart, there is no more room for fear. When the love of God dominates your heart, you will have the assurance of His deliverance at all times. Therefore be encouraged today to spend time in God’s Presence. Intimate fellowship with God, is the source of our faith. Spend time in studying The Word, worship and Prayer.
It is in this place of intimacy that you hear God clearer and get to know Him better. From this place of intimacy faith is birthed in you to confront and overcome any challenge. Truly they that know their God shall be strong and do exploits. And because you have set your love upon God, He will surely deliver you..
PRAYER: Lord, help me to know you intimately, to draw closer to you in fellowship, so as to experience your love that brings deliverance. As your love dominates my heart there shall be no more room for fear in Jesus Name. .
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When you are living and walking in the supernatural everything natural becomes subservient to you, as long as you can ‘see it’, it is changeable. – WORDBITE 222.