JACKSONVILLE —
When we are in danger, read Psalm 91. Verses 9-13 tell us some of the ways the Lord protects us, “If you say, ‘The LORD is my refuge, and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command His angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.”
There are times in our lives that we find ourselves in precarious situations. Lost in a bad part of town [ask me about Nashville], your canoe overturns in deep water [ask me about the Guadalupe], stranded on a mountain ledge [San Jacinto Mountain], lost in the forest [same trip]. We get bad news about a medical test or an accident. There are times in our lives that we feel afraid or in danger. God has promised us that He will never leave nor forsake us. [Hebrews 13:5]
Other Scriptures to read when danger or fear comes:
Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 121:1-8
I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip-he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you-the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm-he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
1 Peter 3:12-14
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.
When I think about danger and fear, I think about my childhood. We lived in the country most of the time. I can recall walking down lonely country roads or in the forest and thinking I could hear something behind me. I would whistle. I would pick up my pace or even run, and I would whistle. I suppose I thought the whistling would scare the bogy-man away. I guess it worked, nothing ever got me. Now I realize that the Lord was protecting me all those times – and still is.
Isn’t it wonderful to know that the Creator of the universe watches over us? He has assigned angels to take care of us. Right now as you are reading this column, angels are with you. When you are sleeping, driving, walking, working – every instant of every day – angels are watching over you.
When you feel that you are in danger, meditate on the Scriptures. Trust that God has you covered. He has your back. And don’t forget the angels.
Next week: Where to look when God seems distant
Dr. Sam Smith,
Butterfly Ministry,
ssmithkate@aol.com
Columns
Where to look in the Bible when we are in danger
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