“A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you” - Psalm 91:7 (NIV).
Anyone who has walked through a dark valley will know how easy it is to lose hope because the way is uncertain. A valley looms with hills above often blocking sunlight and obscuring the pathway. The valley may also be teeming with all sorts of dangerous creatures, eager for prey. The paths might be sinew and without a clear direction with dark clouds gathering above. In the valley one can seem hopelessly lost.
But there is hope. The prayer of Psalm 91 is to seek refuge in the Lord whenever walking through the valley and then His protection will cover us. “I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness” (Psalm 91:2-6).
Around us there are many who are walking through the valley, as in the midst of a pandemic. But when we make the Lord our refuge, there is a promise, for “no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands” (vv 10- 12).
The Bible has those instances of angels coming down to fight on our behalf. As they were about to cross the Red sea with the Pharaoh’s army pursuing them, “Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them” (Exodus 14:9), and all were delivered. So, through this valley, have no where else to look but “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). He will deliver us.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, as we walk through the valley, may we take refuge in you, to protect and give us comfort, in the midst of all the darkness, for you are the light of the way and have gone ahead of us!
Related upcoming events
-
06/05/2024 - 07/05/2024 All day“Do not confirm to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2)
Almost all cultivators are aware that if soils are used perpetually without rains but constantly under work they are deprived of all nutrients. So, though once productive, they lose all power to yield fresh crops as before. But so is our Christian life when we do not regularly feed our spirit life with the Word!
In our leading verse, the Apostle Paul is urging believers to “renew” their minds rather than make them stale, lest they end up losing all power to yield fruit. But how is this done? We renew our minds by constantly reading the Word of God, for there are always insights with God speaking to us afresh. Psalm 119:104-5 says, “I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” The Apostle Peter reminds us, “Like newborn babies hungry for milk, you should want the pure teaching that feeds your spirit. With it you can grow and be saved.” It is a beautiful illustration for any who have seen a hungry baby sucking the teats of a mother.
Renewing our minds is also by reading about the lives of people of faith who have walked before us and their created works. The Christian faith started in the first century after Jesus was crucified and resurrected from the dead. Now over two millenniums it has produced giants of faith who have shared their walk with God through inspired teachings that are a treasure to dig into. By scouring the writings of the great saints before us, listening to their recorded sermons, songs and preaching, which these days can be found on virtual medial channels like Yu tube, reading their biographies, our faith is renewed.
And then we also renew our faith through fellowship. When the Apostle Paul urges us, “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” ( Hebrews 10:25), he is reminding us that our faith cannot grow in isolation. During the Covid pandemic lockdown one bitter issue was denying Believers opportunity to meet fellow followers of Christ to share testimonies showing the work of God in their lives.
So today, if your faith is on a low keel, or you want it to flower, one thing you can’t help doing without is “renewing” your mind. The blessings to unfold are endless.
Prayer for today:Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a treasure we have of your rich Word to dig into always; books around us of faith to inspire us; and believers to share our faith- may we make use of these, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
