Divine Protection

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Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. --Philippians 4:6 To pray successfully, we must pray with conviction. What does it mean to pray with conviction? In Nehemiah 1:5-6, Nehemiah prays, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant….” In these verses, Nehemiah is praying with conviction because he knows that his God is in control. When it seemed like everything was out of control in Jerusalem, Nehemiah knew that God was still on His throne. Nehemiah knew that the Lord would answer his prayer because He was a great and awesome God. Because He was a wonderful God. Because He was a faithful God. Because He was a God who could meet all of Nehemiah’s needs! And in just the same way, God can handle any problem in your life. Do you believe that today? God is bigger… God is greater… than any situation or crisis in your life. And the first thing Nehemiah did is the first thing that you ought to do when you have a problem, a crisis, or a need: You need to turn it over to God. You need to give it to God, not as your last chance, but as your first choice! When you know that God is above all and that He has everything under control… and when you know that your place is surrendered under the lordship of Christ, then you can find your place and know your prayers will be answered!   TRUST THAT GOD CAN HANDLE ANY PROBLEM IN YOUR LIFE

Divine Protection

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.”

Psalm 91:9–13

Late in his life, Dr. James M. Gray who followed R. A. Torrey as the head of Moody Bible Institute suffered a serious health crisis. His doctors suggested a voyage at sea so that the clean air and relaxation would promote his recovery. Gray planned his trip, but just before he was to sail, his sickness worsened again, and he was not able to go. Just a few days later he read in the papers that the ship on which he had planned to sail had sunk after hitting a reef and everyone on board had drowned.

Many times we are not even aware of the things God does to deliver us from danger. He closes doors and redirects our path in such a way that we are spared great sorrow and heartache. Yet because we do not see it, we are often not grateful—sometimes even feeling that God is not doing anything in our lives. Even worse we sometimes become angry at the very things God uses to protect us. When Balaam foolishly went against God’s command not to go to Moab, three times his donkey stopped to keep Balaam from being killed by an angel that only the donkey could see. Each time Balaam beat the donkey, and even said he wanted to kill the very animal that was keeping him alive. We do not need to see what God is doing to trust that it is there.

Today's Growth Principle: 

Gratitude for God’s unseen protection and provision should be a regular part of our daily lives.