“A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you” - Psalm 91:7 (NIV).
As the coronavirus pandemic rages worldwide and strikes closer home (this week I lost a friend) the struggle can appear hopeless. For all the public health safety measures put in place and even by observing all- hand hygiene, physical distancing, masks, etc. - there is always a gap.
Take the case of handling currency which goes through several hands! How about going to the market and picking up groceries which went through several hands. For all those that insist on lockdowns there are neighborhoods where bodies are always pushing against each other and folks can’t stay at home for they have no food! These have to go out and work in many offices and homes where they bump into someone running with the virus.
So, how does one protect himself? Our verse today should encourage us. When the angel of death came to pass reaping every first born in Egypt the Israelites would be spared of this grief because God’s hand of protection was on their households. “There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt—worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.’ Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel” (Exodus 11:6-7).
There can be a point when everything fails but the Lord, the giver of life, is the ultimate protector. For the children of God may we daily plead His blood to cover us wherever we go and whatever we touch, just as the blood of the lamb saved every Israelite household whose door was marked with it. “When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down” (Exodus 12:23).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God, creator of heaven and earth, I pray that the blood of the lamb of God may cover me and all my people wherever they go and whatever they touch, that all may return safely, for we are your people, set apart for your glory, and not a single harm shall touch one of us!
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03/05/2024 - 04/05/2024 All day“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10)
Every now and then one could be gripped with fear because of certain events sweeping before one’s life journey. It could be the finances that are stretched and incomes are no longer certain. Perhaps it is one’s job under threat. Perhaps it is a dreaded health report card. There could be fear about outcome of a matter under judgment and what it might mean to one’s future.
Fear has been elsewhere described as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.” Every life will experience fear at one point. Whenever we are faced with fear it is natural to look for something to grasp on. Sometimes we run for shelter wherever we can find. Perhaps we might seek out a friend for quiet confidence.
But there are those situations when there is no shelter in sight. There are also those cases where those we thought would understand our situation once we share our pain return only hurting and critical feedback. In such moments we might then turn and look within ourselves only to find the energy has all been sapped by this gnawing fear. We feel down and the urge to rise and move on all gone!
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10) the word of God through prophet Isaiah assures us. But why? It is because the Lord has been there. He himself was faced with fear before his crucifixion but He looked to God.
Charles Spurgeon once wrote when faced with fear always remember, “Nothing is too hard for Him. He can find a way where there is no way. He can give us the idea that will make all the difference.” Psalm 91:2, says, “I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” So, when faced with fear, look to God to strengthen you. By looking to Him, the Lord will encourage and lift up your spirit, and make a way out of nowhere!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I surrender to you any fear that is in me for I know by looking up to you, you will always make a way out of nowhere, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
