“If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’ and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.”
Psalm 91:9-10 (NIV)
No one and nothing can give us the sense of safety or security that the Lord Himself can give. If we could only see the invisible world of protection that we are privileged to have surrounding us. Angels are working on our behalf, to protect us from what we can and cannot see, minute by minute, and day after day. The Holy Spirit also guides us in very inconspicuous ways, leading us with gentle promptings within.
Of all the security systems, burglar alarms, devices, weapons and tools of protection, the safest place to be is in a state of grace, totally trusting the Lord, whose Spirit guides us, knowing God is our refuge and our fortress. He guards our coming and our going. (Psalm 121:8)
When I was involved in a church youth group many years ago, a young man in the group shared a true story. He offered one of the young ladies a ride home after a church youth group. He dropped her off at her apartment building in Chicago, watching as she walked safely into the front hallway of her apartment building.
As he drove away, before getting to the end of the block, he felt a very strange and strong compulsion to go back and check on her. He went back and as he walked towards her front hallway, a man, who had her pinned against the wall, quickly fled out the door, after seeing him approach.
Some would say that her friend listened to his gut or an intuition, telling him to go back. Maybe it was the Holy Spirit, who prompted him to go check on her, but one thing is certain. If we listen, the Spirit puts those gut feelings and intuitive urges within all of us. God was looking out for that young lady, and guarded her in her coming and her going. He does the same for all of us, even when we are unaware.
In my late teens, I once donated a pint of blood at a blood drive in downtown Chicago. Afterward, I climbed a flight of stairs to catch a public elevated train back home. By the time I made it to the top of the platform, I was fully conscious, but totally lost my vision. I could hear the train coming, but was too proud to ask for help. I followed the sound of the train, and listened to the doors open, feeling my way inside and quickly sat down. My vision soon returned, and I was fine. In thinking back, I should have asked for help or waited before boarding the train. Somehow I was guided safely through the doors of the train, by using my sense of hearing, since I couldn’t see for a few minutes. Even when we take foolish chances, our guardian angel still protects us.
A missionary, living in Brazil, once shared a true story. He was asked to speak at a school in a high crime neighborhood of Sao Paulo. When he finished his talk and began driving home, eight motorcycles with two men riding on each, began following his car. A Brazilian native, riding in the car with him, told him they were a gang of thieves who were going to steal his car, which was a common crime happening in the area.
As the motorcycles got closer, surrounding his car, the missionary kept driving, while praying out loud, saying, “Lord, you are my refuge, please protect us…” He kept talking to God and praying, while the cyclists rode alongside him, giving him threatening looks. He kept praying, and then the cyclists suddenly slowed down, turned around and they all left. Something stopped them from committing the crime, though no one else was around, except maybe a team of angels.
Scripture is full of invitations to trust in the miraculous refuge and protection of God. Nothing is impossible when His people pray. Whether we are lying down to sleep or moving through a hectic, busy day, we are always surrounded by angelic helpers and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
God is the all powerful King of the universe, and Jesus told us to ask for the impossible, since with God all things are possible.
(Matthew 19:26)
Lord, thank you that the safest place to dwell is in You alone, where nothing shall be impossible. Help us live in confidence, trusting you as our ultimate source of security. Amen
