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Psalm 91:1(NLT) says “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” We know that God is everywhere present, all-powerful, and all-knowing. There’s no crevice or cranny within all His creation that His shadow does not cover. This verse in Psalm 91 is telling us that God’s shelter offers us an extreme level of comfort and provision. Notice, too, that Psalm 91:1 applies to those who LIVE in this shelter. This means that we’ve made a home there, and we know what it is to be next to God—to be close and in His presence continually. It’s a state of being that we’ve grown into through the trials and tribulations of life. When we’ve developed this kind of intimacy with Heavenly Father, we’ll find rest in His shadow. So, if you’re finding it challenging during these times to have peace, now is a really good time to begin to experience what it means to abide in the shelter of His love continually.
When it comes to who we are and who we are going to become, God’s goals are a little different than ours. He knows our past, present, and our futures. He sees and knows the big picture, and He tells us about it in Ephesians 1:10(NLT). It says, “And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.” It may not seem like it to many of us, and we may not see it, but every moment of every day, we are moving closer to accomplish God’s plan and purpose. All things are working towards this, and He is bringing together everything both in heaven and in the earth, from the least to the greatest. It will all be under the authority of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Heavenly Father isn’t going to violate our free-will in order to accomplish His plan. This is one of the reasons He is so patient with us. He doesn’t force us to comply with His Will. He waits on us to learn the lessons of humility and surrender, and life will cycle back these lessons continually. Corporately, we’re in the middle of one of those lessons right now. Heavenly Father isn’t punishing us, but He has allowed us to see what happens when we do not line our will up with His Will. He has created the universe in such a way that everything has a purpose that is according to His entire plan. When something functions against the purpose for which it is created, chaos, and confusion will be the result.
Through the Apostle Paul, God puts it like this in Romans 9:20(NLT), “Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?”” God created us in His image. We are uniquely designed for partnership with Him. As we grow His in love through the example of Christ, it becomes more and more apparent that we’re moving in His plan. Jesus Christ tells us in John 15:10 that when we obey his commandments, we remain in His love, and there is no greater place to be. This is the realm where His blessings and rewards abound, but we must follow God’s guidance and direction, as He draws us closer to Him.
There is no denying that life today is more challenging than any of us could have ever imagined. The days are evil, and the enemy wants to shift us like wheat, but we serve a God that sits high and looks low. The beautiful Words of God in Jeremiah 29:11 assures us that our God has a plan for our lives; they are good plans that will give us a good future and hope. We are not perfect, nor do we have to be for God to bless us. This is the beauty of who He is. Jesus Christ died not just for the Christian, but for everyone. Romans 9:16 tells us that God’s mercy isn’t a reward for our good behavior; it’s not a trophy for the fastest runner. He willingly bestows mercy on everyone.
The psalmist said in Psalm 91:2-3(NLT), “2 This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.” God desires to wrap His arms of protection around us because He is our Keeper. But we must also shelter ourselves under the comfort of care through faith in Him. God’s shelter isn’t a motel where we decide to stay close to Him through obedience for a short stay. 1John 4:16 tells us that God is love, and everyone who lives in love also lives in God, and God lives in them. He lives in us to perform the work we desperately need internally to become who we are meant to be.
Every artist knows that the mold dictates the shape. The image and likeness of God is our design, and God has given us the blueprint of it through Jesus; he is the mold. We know from God’s Word that satan tried to destroy the mold, first through Adam, and then by crucifying Christ. But our Redeemer saved us and completely demolished what the enemy tried to do. Let’s not take ourselves all the way back to where Adam and Eve were with sin and doubt. Let’s walk in the accomplishment of Christ and reject sin and all its horrible consequences; for we have found the secret place of the Almighty through our Messiah, Yeshua—Jesus Christ!
By his stripes we are healed. He carried our sin and disease to the cross, and he gave his life for our sins, so that we could be covered through God’s healing power. It is a finished work that Christ has accomplished for us. No sin left unpaid; no disease left unhealed. We were buried with him and we rose with him in the victory he won over satan. Jesus did this all for us. Ephesians 2:6 tells us we’re now seated with Christ in heavenly places through our new birth experience. We’re interdimensional, because our bodies are on earth, and our minds and hearts dwell with Christ continually. God’s eyes never move away from us. He is helping us to fit into the mold of His Dear Son. Let’s do everything we can to partner with Him. Pray often and live by the example of Christ, so you will be confident that you’re in the safety and care of our God. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“God Is Your Place of Safety”, written by Reverend Fran Mack, edited by Kim Times for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2020. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.
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