Psalm 91:1
“He that dwelleth 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 will I trust” (KJV).
Have you recently given your life to Christ? Or been a follower of Christ for a long time? Our Christian journey will not be easy, but the Lord Jesus will give strength to press daily and overcome any obstacle. As I was boarding a flight to Charlotte, North Carolina in year of 2018, I heard the Lord say, “This place”. But it didn’t stop there; I heard the words to the beginning of a new song….
“This place is where I want to be.
This place, oh how you set me free.
This place, my God you are my life.
This place, oh how you set me free.”
As I sat down in my assigned seat, looking out the window and watching the men load the baggage’s under the plane; The Lord continued to say, “If you stay in this place, I will take you to places, you’ve never dreamed of”. I began to realize, “This place” was the secret place- the presence of the Lord, where you find peace, safety, joy, hope, and above all, Jesus unconditional love. Psalm 16:11 states, “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever” (NLT). In the Spirit, I saw an eagle getting ready to soar. Immediately, the Lord began to show me the plane is like an eagle. When the plane takes off it ascends to a certain altitude, just like the eagle when it soars. As the eagle soars, it might experience some turbulences in the sky. The eagle is one of the most powerful birds that fascinates me. Eagles do not avoid turbulences; they embrace it. It enables them to soar to new heights and launch them to speeds more than one hundred miles per hour. As I researched, about eagles, I realized the Lord revealing the importance of staying in the secret place. Psalm 91:1, explains the benefits of the secret place, especially in times of trouble. When we dwell in “This Place”, no matter the circumstances, we are sheltered by God’s protection, experience His power, and receive provision.
Because of the times we are living in, it’s wise to take heed to what the Bible teaches us. The Lord wants us to experience His presence, not only now, but for eternity. We have a blessed assurance of this Great Salvation, because of the atonement of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “For this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. However, we must carry out the Plan of Salvation, written in Acts 2:38. Peter said on the Day of Pentecost “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”. There is no other way! “There is a way which seemeth right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12, KJV). Recently, during a Bible study on “The oneness of God” at Church, my Pastor encouraged us with the scripture reading- “Buy the truth, and sell it not; also, wisdom and instruction, and understanding” (Proverbs 23:23, KJV). For heaven and earth will pass away but Gods words shall not (Matthew 24:35).
We are living in the last days, marked by wars, earthquakes, food shortages, and pestilences. Matthew 24:6-8, says, “And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but do not panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nations will go to war against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come” (NLT). There are many other signs, that we are living in the end times. Jesus gave us these prophecies, because He truly wishes for none to perish. Peter clearly, tell us in 2 Peter 3:9-10, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (NLT).
Recently, on October 7th, war broke out in Israel, where Hamas’s terrorists broke through the barrier at the border between Israel and Gaza, launching an unprecedented attack. The unexpected attack on Israel, by this militant group (Hamas), have killed more than 900 Israelis and at least 600 Palestinians. News reporters declared, as the days go by, bodies will be found, with numbers expected to rise. Hearing this news, is heart breaking, but when the people of God stay in “This Place”- His presence- nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The Apostle Paul reminds us, in Romans 8:38, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death no life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow- not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love” (NLT). Just like an eagle, we will experience the turbulences of this world. However, “let not your heart be troubled” sayeth the Lord and get into “This Place”.
Let us continue to be encouraged with the promises of God. As believers, baptized in His name “Jesus”, filled with His Spirit- it doesn’t matter the size of the problem. For “this I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety: he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection” (Psalm 91:2-4, NLT). So, today, we will choose to, “cast down every imagination and high thing that exalt itself against the knowledge of God and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). JD&L Mission encourages you this week, to keep your eyes upon the Lord. “…. Dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:10-11). For we know not when Jesus will appear, but if we stay in (This place) the secret place of the most high, we can rest assure, we will abide under the shadow of the almighty for eternity.
(I encourage you to take the time, read the scriptures listed throughout)
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come to you today, with all our hearts, acknowledging that we are sinners in need of a savior. Have mercy on us, O God because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out every stain of sin. Wash us clean from guilt. Purify us from every sin. For King David, your servant acknowledged the importance of repentance, which is the only way to be in your presence. For we were born a sinner, the moment our mother conceived us (Psalm 51). We thank you Jesus, that you will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. Thank you for your cleansing, and access to be in your presence. Psalm 24:3-6 reminds us, “Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior. Such people may seek you and worship in your presence, O God Jacob”. Help us to be holy in all manner of living (1 Peter 1:15-16) and sanctify us by your truth, because your word is truth (John 17:17). Lord we need your Spirit to guide us. We pray for those who haven’t taken the step to follow the Plan of Salvation- that you will draw them closer. For no man comes to you, unless you draw them (John 6:44). Father, we know your return is near and we believe that we are in the last days. We pray for souls to be saved, set free, and delivered from this world. We pray that you will touch the lives in Israel and Palestine. We pray, if theirs any one sick in body that healing will be their portion in Jesus’ name. We rebuke the spirit of fear, anxiety, doubt in the mighty name of Jesus. For you have given us authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall come to harm us (Luke 19:10). Let your peace sweep over the souls of your people. We pray that as your people, called by your name, we will humble ourselves, pray, and seek your face, and turn from our wicked ways; then you promised you will hear from heaven, and will forgive our sins and will heal the land (2 Chronicles 7:14). Lord Jesus, we will wait upon you, as you renew our strength each day to endure the turbulence in this world. We believe, with all our hearts, we will soar high on wings like eagles. We will run and not grow weary and walk and not faint. In Jesus precious & Holy name, AMEN
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