Do you need God to get up in the middle of a situation in your life and fight for you? Do you need him to swoop in and rescue you? Do you need him to intervene?
Did you know this is exactly what he wants to do for you today? In fact, he has been fighting for you, he is rescuing you, and he is ready to intervene again at this moment … will you invite him into the middle?
Psalm 91 says, “you who sit in God’s presence, you who spends the night in His shadow.” Hey, just in case you missed it, that’s YOU! You are sitting in God’s presence. You just spent the night protected in His shadow! He’s right here with you at this moment to guide you. This scripture says if that’s you, if you’re the one sitting in God’s presence and spending the night in His shadow (and it is you), say this “God, you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!”
Will you say that right now? God, you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe.
The first 15 verses of Psalm 91 goes on to give us the image of God as our protector.
That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps,
shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you—
under them you’re perfectly safe;
his arms fend off all harm.
He ordered his angels
to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they’ll catch you;
their job is to keep you from falling.
Now, God’s personal message to you in verse 14-16.
“If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God,
“I’ll get you out of any trouble.
I’ll give you the best of care
if you’ll only get to know and trust me.
Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times;
I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party.
I encourage you to read the transcript of this devotional today and take those words to heart. There are hidden traps set by your enemy trying to hold you back, God is rescuing you. His arms are stretched over you protecting you from harm. His angels are by your side every where you go and their one job is to catch you when you stumble and keep you from falling. Don’t you understand that’s why you’re still up today … because the mighty warriors of heaven are fighting for you!
If you’re in trouble, girl you better hold on to God for dear life. He will give you the best care, but it’s up to you to get to know and trust him.
To get a full visual of what God is trying to tell us here, imagine someone trying to break up a fight. We’ve all witnessed that scene, whether in person or in a movie. There’s trouble brewing between two people, it escalates and a fight breaks out. Then here comes a third person to intervene. They position themselves right in the middle and separate the two. They play the hero, protecting the weak, putting themselves in harms way to break up the fight.
And isn’t this the perfect picture of what our Jesus does for us? He intervenes in our struggles in life and shields us. The hero who jumps right in the middle and stretches out his arms to protect. Oh yes, he stretched out his arms and DIED FOR YOU.
And his huge outstretched arms continue to protect you today. He’s put his angels in charge over you. You’re never out of his sight or his care. You can rest in that today. You can lay down your worries and cares and trust that you are being cared for. The one who knows everything and can see it all is likely much more capable than you of working all this out, don’t you think … so just trust him today.
Imagine that scene again of a 3rd person intervening to break up a fight, putting themselves in the middle with outstretched arms … who do they face? They always face the attacker. That means their back is to the one they are protecting.
This is why you may sometimes feel like God has turned his back on you … he has. Not because he’s abandoned you – not because he doesn’t love you – but because HE IS PROTECTING YOU. He is shielding you from attacks. He is dealing with the one attacking and protecting the one at his back.
How valuable this is. Remember this next time you’re in the right and someone else is in the wrong. Whether it be your husband, your coworker or a hater. Call upon God to intervene – he will. And he will face your attacker. He will deal with them. He will talk them down. And that means his back will be to you. You may not feel consoled. You may not feel like you have answers and clear direction … and that’s okay … rest in his shadow. Be comforted knowing his back is turned to you because he’s protecting you.
And this is important – you can back down. You don’t need to throw insults back at your attacker, nor do you need to try and throw punches. You’re over here trying to act like a little wild woman and get a word in – jumping and throwing your arms around trying to defend yourself and God’s like “girl – just stop it. Cool it. I’ve got this. You don’t need to say another word – I WILL DEAL WITH THEM.”
Can you do that? Can you get control of yourself and stop trying to get your point in? Can you stop trying to throw your jabs and punches? Can you trust that GOD WILL DEAL WITH THIS SITUATION WAY BETTER THAN YOU COULD ON YOUR OWN.
With his outstretched arms protecting you, he will face the one in the wrong and go to work on them. And sometimes, we must admit, we’re a little in the wrong too. Maybe God wants to go to work on you! Your attitude, your perspective, your priorities, your choices. Remember this, God loves the person you’re at odds with too. Sometimes he faces you and deals with you!
Maybe it’s not a person, but a situation – a financial threat – a health threat – a struggle that’s wearing you out. Call on God and let him send in Jesus to intervene! God’s got this!