07.28.10

I will lift up my eyes to the hills - from whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. - Psalm 121:1-2 NKJV.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.” - Psalm 91:1-2 NKJV.

If you live in the UK you need to watch out for…biscuits. Those dangerous little things have been on a rampage! According to one survey one-half of all Britons have received injuries from their biscuits. It is thought that 25 million of them have been hurt eating a biscuit while having some tea or coffee. 500 people have received injuries severe enough to send them to the hospital. Something called the “Biscuit Injury Threat Evaluation” identified the custard cream biscuit as the most dangerous. One third of the injuries resulted from hot liquid being splashed on the person when they dunked their biscuit. About ten percent of the injuries were from teeth being broken while attempting to consume the things. Some of the injuries were caused by poking themselves in the eye with the biscuit and last but not least was the animal threat. Seven percent of the injuries occurred when a pet or some other animal attempted to take the person's biscuit.

We live in a dangerous world where even things as innocent and innocuous as a biscuit can send you to a hospital. Some people develop what is called agoraphobia, and they are afraid to leave their homes. Although as seen with the biscuit problem even in your home it can be dangerous. A large percentage of the falls that cause broken bones occur in the home. It's enough to make you just stay in bed all the time. However, I have heard that even beds can be dangerous. In our modern world with rapidly advancing technology and rapid development of all types of dangerous chemicals, food additives, electronic pollution, microwaves and on and on it is impossible to plan for all the possible threats.

Then there is the weather. April 14, 1935 is known as Black Sunday because of the dust storm to end all dust storms, which occurred that day in Middle America blotting out the sun. Before that there were the grasshoppers of July 26, 1931, which blacked out the sun destroying vast areas of crops in Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas. There are tornadoes, cyclones, hurricanes, tsunamis, and typhoons. How has mankind survived all of these years in this dangerous place?

The Psalmist knew that he needed help from a power beyond this world to survive, and we do too. The Psalmist's help came from the Lord God, and that is where we will find the help we need in these even more dangerous times. There is a supernatural refuge, a supernatural fortress that is available to those who seek it. It is found in the “shadow of the Almighty.” Under His protection we can walk without fear out into this world even though danger from the smallest biscuit to the largest tornado may stalk us. Through His power, we can as David says in the 23rd Psalm, “Fear no evil” even if we may “walk through the valley of the shadow of death.”

Whenever you experience fear immediately turn to God in prayer. Ask Him to give you peace. Even in the midst of a natural storm, a storm of problems, or a storm of emotions He promises to give you peace “which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).” Begin every day asking for His protection, for His peace, for yourself and your loved ones because God loves His children. As the apostle Paul puts it, “…we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:37 -39).”