In a brief departure from the I Am series, I wanted to write about something I read today. A woman on Skip Moen’s site said that those who abide in the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91) can run at Goliath because the Almighty God follows immediately behind his shadow. What a great image for us! We who shelter under His shadow have the comfort of knowing that He who casts that shadow is immediately behind it and us! It’s not some random stray shadow that got away and we’re hanging out under it, like under a cloud. It’s like my shadow. Where I go, it goes because it’s attached. As long as I stay in His shadow He is right behind me or right in front of me! Now, that’s an awesome image!
I am born of God and the evil one does not touch me. 1 John 5:18 We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. I think it’s pretty clear that we all sin. Not intentionally perhaps, but our original birth was human. Yeshua, on the other hand, is literally born of God. He had no earthly father. And He is the one who keeps those of us who are born again (born fresh and renewed). I think the last part is interesting. The evil one does not touch him. Even Ha-satan had to ask God to remove His hand of protection from Job. He even had to ask God to afflict Job. It wasn’t Ha-satan who did anything other than suggest what to do to test Job. For sure, Ha-satan’s forces harass believers today. I’ve seen evidence of this in my home. Yet, I think he must harm and harass us by using other people who are still part of his kingdom. And we also know that nothing can happen unless it first goes through the hand of God. Evil happens because we are in a world full of imperfect people, but we are protected by God. So, suit up and fight. Defend yourself and your family, but remember that He that is in you and me is stronger than he who is in the world! Yay!
Isaiah 8:11-14a11 The Lord has given me a strong warning, “Do not think like everyone else does. Do not be afraid that some plan … will be the end of you. Do not fear anything except the Lord Almighty. He is the Holy One. If you fear Him you need fear nothing else. He will keep you safe… Wow! Three things I see here:First, let me say that I have no idea what translation this is (my Bible says New Living Translation, but it’s different from what BibleGateway.com says in its New Living Translation, so… ????). 1. I shouldn’t be thinking like everyone else does. I should be thinking like Jesus, on the things He says to think about. It’s easy to think like the world – get stuff, look good, it’s all about me….Be afraid, very afraid… (Which brings me to my second point.) 2. Don’t fear all these plans made behind closed doors. (Like those being made by our government? Or my boss?) I get really frustrated because I feel so helpless and unable to voice my opinion about the insanity (my opinion) of the things that our government is doing. I’m not sure I’m afraid of them, except that they’ll start the apocalypse or something like that. But I know people who are afraid – stockpiling food, buying guns, etc. Here is says that this will not be the end of me. Well, theoretically it could be my end, but it’s saying that they don’t have the power to end everything. 3. Fear God alone. Don’t be afraid of other things. This one struck home because I fear a lot for my children – what if our car drives off a bridge into water or if there’s a car fire and I can’t get them out (hmmm… lot’s of fear with cars… what does that mean? Giant man-eating fish, no… Cars, yes). But I’m not supposed to be afraid of things like that because ultimately God is in control. He is Holy and all-powerful. So, I fear Him which leads to trust and increasing faith. I put my children and their wellfare in His hands, thanking Him for each moment I have with them. He says that He will keep me safe (and them) – and really, isn’t he the only who can keep us safe anyway? We can do what we want to try and prevent things, but we don’t really have a whole lot of control over things. God is God and He’s bigger than all the things I fear (including giant roaches that leap out of drawer at me – yuckyuckyuckyuckyuck!!!!!).