Do you remember the day that it happened? Life before 9/11 had challenges, but after, I remember that people came together to help each other. Our world is a very different place, today, and even though we sometimes face an uncertain present, as a daughter of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, I can trust in my future.

At no time should I crumble when the enemy comes in like a flood because Jesus promises that I can lift up a standard against the enemy. It is difficult to take a stand sometimes and our natural response to hurt is usually retreat. During the times of retreat we learn how to wait on God and to trust him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Being rejected isn’t easy to take sometimes, and living in the shadows tends to subdue our testimony and our effectiveness for the kingdom. We can be meek and still be strong in character. It isn’t necessary to give in or give up to the world. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

It only took God’s spoken word to bring the worlds into existence. How great and mighty is the God we serve! I wonder why I limit God so when I struggle with the world? When will I begin to believe his word and act in faith without wavering? Sometimes we place the greatest obstacles in our own paths without any help from those who would despitefully use us. Obstacles of doubt, unworthiness, fear, intimidation. If only I could get a picture of the great things that the Lord has in store for me and for us as a body of believers. Not one of us would be here today without faith.

To reap good fruit, we must sow good seeds, and to allow the word to work for us we must act on the word and be in total obedience to the will of God. We can listen to God and stop his blessings from ever reaching us because we don’t abide in his word. We could sometimes be identified as haphazard Christians: when everything is going our way, we don’t have time to read the word and we enjoy the good life; when things fall apart in our lives, we turn to prayer and wonder why God allows things to happen to us while other Christians and the world in general are succeeding.

In all fairness, I must ask what makes me so different than the next person down the road? The Lord rains on the righteous and the unrighteous. He is no respecter of persons. He chose us to do his will and we need to take a good long look at life from God’s perspective. We will see the mighty hand of God at work in our lives. Maybe not during the test designed to strengthen us, but after we have overcome the trial, and pause to reflect on the goodness and mercy of God. We shall see how God will arise and his enemies will be scattered. People may mean it for evil, but God is working all things out for our good. He cares about us for all eternity.

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (James 4:10). Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James:5:13-16).

“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit
of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews:15-16).

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:5-8).

In this week’s Lattereign we learn that being under the shadow of the Almighty is a place of refuge.

under-the-shadow-of-the-almighty

CreditImage address: http://www.news.com.au/world/pictures-of-911-that-show-you-why-you-should-never-forget/story-fndir2ev-1226717187453