Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation. Psalms 91:9-16 (NKJV)
Well, I can only imagine the thoughts running through your mind when you glanced at the title of todays devotional. For some, Im sure the thought of some scary movie trailer they saw on TV, suddenly dashed through their head, with the image of someone stalking them. Okay, enough of that! In fact, stick with me, because if youre a Christian, and youve suffered from this type of fear, youll be given the peace of knowing your being protected.
The story Im sharing with you today is about the Prophet Elisha, and it is recorded in the Bible in the Book of 2Kings, chapter 6. It is a perfect example of what Psalm 91 assures us as children of God.
Now the king of Aram (Syria) was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, I will set up my camp in specific place. But the prophet Elisha, sent word to the King of Israel saying, Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.
So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by Elisha, and found it to be true. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.
This enraged the king of Aram, and thinking that there was a traitor within his officers, he summoned his officers and demanded of them, Will you not tell me which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?
None of us, said one of his officers, but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.
Go, find out where he is, the king ordered, so I can send men and capture him. The report came back: He is in Dothan.
Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
The next morning, Elishas servant awoke early and he got up and went outside. He saw that an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. He went back to Elisha and said, Oh, my lord, what shall we do?
Elisha responded to his servant, Dont be afraid, those who are with us are more than those who are with them.
Elisha wanted his servant to have the peace of understanding how much God was in control, and to know they would be safe in His care, and so Elisha prayed to God so his servant might see this.
And Elisha prayed, O LORD, open his eyes so he may see. Then the LORD opened the servants eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2Kings 6:17 (NIV)
So, in accordance with Elishas prayer, the servants eyes were enabled to behold the company of an innumerable angelic host that stood ready to intervene for Elisha.
We need to know as Christians; God is going before us in each situation we face. This story is not an isolated example within the Bible, there are many more. The prophet Isaiah even speaks of God going before and protecting a pagan King named Cyrus, because it served in Gods purposes for Israel (See Isa 45:1-7)
It is history such as this, recorded in the scriptures of the greatest Book ever written, which show us Gods sovereignty in every situation.
We should remember what James said about these times, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. (See James 1:2-8)
We should be confident today in every situation we face, knowing God is with us, and will guide, lead and protect us. Call on Him today, and seek His grace, mercy, and guidance for your life. It is never too late to change the direction in which you are traveling. And if the direction youre going is right, but is still filled with tribulation and testing, then know, God is with you, and has His angels protecting you through every aspect of it.
STUDY QUESTION: What can we learn from Elishas answered prayer as recorded in 2Kings 6:17?
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Can you relate to Elishas servant, by looking at overwhelming situations in your life, and as a result, began doubting in fear?
APPLICATION: Remember this story each time you fear. Remember how God sends His angels to protect. Remember how He has given His children the helper called the Holy Spirit. And know add it all up! You have a combination, which is unbeatable. And this, my friends, is His grace.
Well, I can only imagine the thoughts running through your mind when you glanced at the title of todays devotional. For some, Im sure the thought of some scary movie trailer they saw on TV, suddenly dashed through their head, with the image of someone stalking them. Okay, enough of that! In fact, stick with me, because if youre a Christian, and youve suffered from this type of fear, youll be given the peace of knowing your being protected.
The story Im sharing with you today is about the Prophet Elisha, and it is recorded in the Bible in the Book of 2Kings, chapter 6. It is a perfect example of what Psalm 91 assures us as children of God.
Now the king of Aram (Syria) was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, I will set up my camp in specific place. But the prophet Elisha, sent word to the King of Israel saying, Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.
So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by Elisha, and found it to be true. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.
This enraged the king of Aram, and thinking that there was a traitor within his officers, he summoned his officers and demanded of them, Will you not tell me which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?
None of us, said one of his officers, but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.
Go, find out where he is, the king ordered, so I can send men and capture him. The report came back: He is in Dothan.
Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
The next morning, Elishas servant awoke early and he got up and went outside. He saw that an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. He went back to Elisha and said, Oh, my lord, what shall we do?
Elisha responded to his servant, Dont be afraid, those who are with us are more than those who are with them.
Elisha wanted his servant to have the peace of understanding how much God was in control, and to know they would be safe in His care, and so Elisha prayed to God so his servant might see this.
And Elisha prayed, O LORD, open his eyes so he may see. Then the LORD opened the servants eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2Kings 6:17 (NIV)
So, in accordance with Elishas prayer, the servants eyes were enabled to behold the company of an innumerable angelic host that stood ready to intervene for Elisha.
We need to know as Christians; God is going before us in each situation we face. This story is not an isolated example within the Bible, there are many more. The prophet Isaiah even speaks of God going before and protecting a pagan King named Cyrus, because it served in Gods purposes for Israel (See Isa 45:1-7)
It is history such as this, recorded in the scriptures of the greatest Book ever written, which show us Gods sovereignty in every situation.
We should remember what James said about these times, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. (See James 1:2-8)
We should be confident today in every situation we face, knowing God is with us, and will guide, lead and protect us. Call on Him today, and seek His grace, mercy, and guidance for your life. It is never too late to change the direction in which you are traveling. And if the direction youre going is right, but is still filled with tribulation and testing, then know, God is with you, and has His angels protecting you through every aspect of it.
STUDY QUESTION: What can we learn from Elishas answered prayer as recorded in 2Kings 6:17?
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Can you relate to Elishas servant, by looking at overwhelming situations in your life, and as a result, began doubting in fear?
APPLICATION: Remember this story each time you fear. Remember how God sends His angels to protect. Remember how He has given His children the helper called the Holy Spirit. And know add it all up! You have a combination, which is unbeatable. And this, my friends, is His grace.
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